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AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE 





BY 

MISS MARY DWINELL GHELLIS, 

AUTHOR OF “ THE TEMPERANCE DOCTOR,” “ OUT OF THE FIRE,” 
“DEACON SIM’S PRAYERS,” ETC. 




s • . 

NEW YORK: 

National Temperance Society and Publication House, 
172 William Street. 

1869 . 




Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by 
J. N. STEARNS, 

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for 
the Eastern District of New York. 


Rockwell & Churchill, Printers and Stereotypers, 
122 Washington Street, Boston. 


Aunt Dinah’s Pledge. 




i. 

Hippety, hoppety, don’t you see? 

Hippety, hoppety, come to me ; 

Hippety, hoppety, black and queer, 

* Come to my cottage, and give me cheer. 

"What can that child he doing?” ex- 
claimed a young lady as she paused in her 
walk to watch the movements of a hand- 
some, black-eyed boy, who, at that moment, 
turned his face towards her. 

No marvel that she asked. He held in 
his hand a small tin cup, containing some 
brown sugar. Some of this had been scat- 
tered upon the ground, and, after a hasty 
glance at the lady, he repeated, in a sweet, 
musical voice, the lines with which this 
chapter opens. Unintelligible as they were 

3 


4 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


to the listener, he comprehended them per- 
fectly, and expected the invitation would be 
heeded. More sugar was taken from the 
cup, and a little more earnestly was Hippety, 
hoppety addressed. 

"What are you doing?” now asked the 
lady, bending over him, and for the first 
time observing some paper boxes. "What 
is it you call Hippety, hoppety ? ” 

"Crickets,” answered the child. "I want 
some to carry home.” 

"But what makes you call them? They 
can’t hear.” 

"Can’t they?” he asked, with a sorrowful 
quiver in his voice, then added, almost in 
the same breath, " Please, I guess they can. 
They sing.” 

"Perhaps they can,” replied the lady, 
unwilling to dispel the child’s illusion. " But 
what are you doing with these boxes ? ” 

"I put crickets in them.” 

" Did you make the boxes ? ” 

"No, ma’am. Please, I don’t knowhow. 
Oily made them.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


5 


"JjYho is Oily?” 

"My sister,” replied the child. "Don’t 
you know Oily ? ” 

"If I do, I never heard her name before. 
Where is she ? ” 

"Up there, getting moss. Oily,” he 
called, and directly a girl, who might have 
been six years of age, was seen coming 
towards them. "That’s Oily,” said the boy. 

"Your brother is trying to catch crickets,” 
remarked the lady. 

"Yes, ma’am,” was the reply, as her long 
lashes drooped over a pair of wondrously 
beaming eyes. 

" Do they come when he calls them ? ” 

"He catches them sometimes,” was the 
indirect answer. 

" I’ve only got one this time, Oily,” said 
the boy, " and you made me four boxes. I 
want four crickets.” 

"What do you want of them, child?” 

" I want them to put in the hearth, so 
they’ll sing next winter, when the wind 
blows. Didn’t you ever hear them sing ? ” 


6 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" Oh, yes, indeed. I have heard them 
ever since I can remember. There are plenty 
of them in our old kitchen hearth. We 
don’t need to catch them.” 

"There are ever so many in our kitchen 
hearth too,” said Oily. " But Charley likes 
them so well, he thinks we can never have 
enough.” 

" Is your brother’s name Charley ? ” asked 
Miss Marvin, the lady, who was becoming 
every moment more interested in these chil- 
dren. 

" No, ma’am. His name is Charles ; but I 
always call him Charley.” 

The boy looked up as this was said, and 
added, "Sister Mi calls me so too, when I 
am good.” 

" Who is Sister Mi ? ” 

" Why, Sister Mi ! Don’t you know her ? ” 

"No. How should I? ” replied Miss Mar- 
vin, as an amused smile flitted across her face. 

"She takes care of us,” explained Oily. 
"Mother died a good while ago, when Char- 
ley was a baby.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


7 


" Haven’t you a father ? ” 

" Yes, ma’am but he isn’t here.” 

"He comes sometimes,” said Charley-. 
"Then he brings us lots of nice things, and 
we are ever so glad.” 

Miss Marvin, having no wish to continue 
inquiries which might elicit more of family 
history, turned her attention to the basket 
of mosses collected by Oily. "These are 
very fine specimens of moss,” she remarked. 
" Did you find them near here ? ” 

"Yes, ma’am. Only a little ways up, by 
that great rock. There are plenty more. 
Would you like some?” asked the child, 
smiling. 

"I should like some very much. I came 
out with the hope of finding some.” 

" You can have all these.” 

" Oh, no. I will take two or three pieces. 
I shall wish to come another day, with a 
basket.” 

"Perhaps you’ll see Sister Mi then,” ex 
claimed Charley. "She promised to come 
with us to-morrow.” 


8 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" I should like to see your sister.” 

" She is just as good as can be,” responded 
the boy, quite forgetting the crickets. " Aunt 
Dinah calls her an angel, and I guess she is 
one.” 

"No,” said Oily, with a significant shake 
of her head. "Angels are in heaven. Please, 
ma’am, will you choose some of the mosses ? ” 
And very carefully were they taken from the 
basket, to be spread upon a flat rock. 

"Were you going to carry them home?” 

"Yes, ma’am. Sister Mi makes flowers 
of them.” 

"Flowers that keep all winter,” added 
Charley, who had just captured another 
cricket ; and, this success seeming to inspire 
him with renewed ardor, he again repeated 
his invitation. 

" Where did you learn that ? ” asked Miss 
Marvin. 

" Sister Mi told me. She can tell all sorts 
of pretty things. Aunt Dinah says she 
knows heaps.” 

Oily, seeming to consider that her brother 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


9 


had said all which was necessary upon this 
subject, volunteered no additional informa- 
tion. She was waiting for Miss Marvin to 
decide in regard to the mosses. "Please, 
ma’am, take the prettiest. I should like you 
to have them,” she said. 

After some conversation, in which the 
child betrayed a knowledge of botany quite 
beyond her years, her companion selected a 
few of the mossy treasures so cheerfully 
exhibited. This was hardly accomplished, 
when through the clear air rang the melody 
of a quaint old hymn. 

"That is Rufus, singing,” said Oily, notic- 
ing the look of astonishment with which it 
was heard. "He is coming for us. We 
must go now. Come, Charley. You see 
Rufus is lame ; so we always meet him,” she 
explained. 

"There he is now,” exclaimed Charley, 
pointing in the direction from whence the 
singing proceeded. 

Black Rufus, as he was called by all who 
knew him, was leaning against a tree for 


10 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


support, in addition to that furnished by his 
crutches. With his face turned towards the 
west, he sang partly to attract the attention 
of the children, and partly to give utterance 
to feelings for which he could find no other 
expression. 

"We are coming,” shouted Charley, at the 
top of his voice, depositing his boxes in the 
tin cup, and starting to run. A whisper 
from Oily caused him to stop and turn 
around. " Good-by, lady,” he said. 

" Good-by. I hope I shall see you again 
when you come to catch crickets,” was the 
reply. 

"Thank you,” said Oily, answering for 
her brother ; " we shall come again to-mor- 
row.” 

" I must be in school then. This is a 
half-holiday.” 

"Please, do you go to school?” asked the 
boy. 

"I go to the school-house every day. I 
am a teacher.” 

" Are you the new teacher ? ” asked Oily. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


11 


"I suppose I am,” was the smiling reply, 
"I have taught school here only two days 
and a half.” 

" Aunt Dinah told us about you. She saw 
you Monday morning.” 

"Aunt Dinah knows everybody,” added 
her brother. 

" Come I ” now called Rufus ; and with 
hasty good-byes, the children sprang up the 
hill, while Miss Marvin resumed her walk. 

Charley had not reached the tree against 
which Rufus was leaning, when he exclaimed, 
" I have seen her.” 

The singer did not seem to hear ; but no 
sooner had he uttered the last word of the 
hymn than he asked, " Who is her?” 

" The new teacher,” replied the boy. " She 
talked almost like Sister Mi.” 

"She is very pretty,” said Oily, in a 
womanly way. " You would like her.” 

"Would I? Perhaps so; but how about 
her liking me ? ” 

" Don’t everybody like you ? ” asked Char- 
ley. 


12 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


" Guess not and this laconic reply was 
supplemented by a laugh, which would have 
seemed merry or bitter, according to the per- 
ception of those who heard it. 

Just at the foot of the hill, upon the sum- 
mit of which these three were standing, were 
two cottages, separated from each other by a 
garden, in which the brilliant flowers of 
autumn were mingled with long rows of 
luxuriant vegetables. 

"There’s Sister Mi, looking up here,” said 
her brother, as he held aloft the tin cup, in 
token of his success. Directly, however, a 
rustling revealed the fact that his prisoners 
were making desperate efforts to escape, while 
a head, black and queer, peeped through an 
opening in one of the paper boxes. "Oh, 
dear ! ” cried the child. "Do see, Rufus.” 

"Yes, I see,” was the reply. "You put 
Hoppety in the way of temptation. Too 
much sweet for cricket nature to resist.” 

" What is temptation ? ” quickly asked the 
boy, placing a dimpled hand over the tin cup. 

" Temptation ! ” repeated his sable friend, 


aunt dinah's pledge. 


13 


with a somewhat puzzled air, — " temptation 
is when you put something in somebody’s way 
they hadn’t ought to have.” 

" But I want the crickets to have the sugar,” 
responded Charley. 

" Then don’t complain if they get it. That’s 
the way the world goes. Put temptation in 
the way of others, and then find fault when 
they yield more than is for the benefit of the 
tempter. But there’s no harm done in this 
case. Crickets are plenty.” 

" There they go, both of them.” This was 
said, in a sorrowful tone, as out scrambled 
the captives. 

" Never mind. We can get some more 
to-morrow,” was Oily’s comforting assur- 
ance. 

Bufus usually talked when with these chil- 
dren ; but he was now too much occupied 
in defining and limiting temptation. 

Sister Mi and Aunt Dinah watched the trio 
as they descended the hill. "There, honey, 
chile, I told you they all safe,” said the 
latter. " You have so many presentiments of 


14 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


evil, when them children are out of sight, 
it’s enough to wear you to a shadder.” 

" But how can I help it, Aunt Dinah ? ” 
asked the young lady. "They are a great 
responsibility.” 

"I don’t blame you, chile. I felt the spon- 
sibility, myself, but ’taint no manner of use 
worryin’ so. There’s Rufus, and Edgar, and 
me, ready to help. I’ll see ’bout supper 
now ; ” and away plodded Aunt Dinah, feeling 
deeply overwhelmed by the great respon- 
sibility resting upon her. She must care for 
three ; since, in her eyes, Mira Dempster 
was as much of a child as the brother and 
sister, who had not yet outgrown bibs and 
aprons. 

Two years before, the cottages in which 
dwelt those whom I have thus introduced 
to my readers, were so nearly alike, that a 
preference could hardly have been felt for 
either; but they now presented a striking 
contrast. The roof of one had been raised, 
giving space for airy chambers ; while a 
piazza, French windows, blinds and paint, had 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


15 


metamorphosed it into an attractive modern 
dwelling. 

This was the home of the three children ; 
while in the other dwelt Aunt Dinah, happy 
and helpful. Presiding over two kitchens, 
she seemed to have time and strength for all 
demands made upon her, while the sight of 
her good-natured black face was enough to 
dispel doubt and foreboding. 

Cheerfully accepting her lot in life, she 
neither complained nor wished it otherwise. 
"The good Lord knowed all about it, when 
he put me here,” she was accustomed to say. 
"He’s helped me all the way through.” She 
had shed some bitter tears over the sufferings 
of her first-born ; but even this affliction was 
tempered with mercy. As his poor body grew 
dwarfed and deformed, his mind developed 
rapidly, until, as a child, Kufus was quite a 
prodigy of scholarship and intelligence. 

Her husband dying while her children were 
young, she worked early and late to pro- 
vide for their wants, loving them all the more 
because they had so few to love them. 


16 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


"If they’re only good, they’ll go to heaven, 
same as white folks, and ’taint much matter 
about the rest.” 

This was her comfort, and to make sure of 
the desired haven was her strongest wish. 
Next to this she counted an education. Her- 
self only able to read, she was very proud 
when told that her boys were the best scholars 
in school. 

Rufus pored over books from morning until 
night. At length he felt the necessity of 
labor for his own support. Then came the 
question, " What could he do ? ” Few avenues 
were open to such as he ; indeed, shoe-mak- 
ing seemed to be his only resource. 

" If I was white I’d try for something else,” 
he once said to his mother ; " but it’s of no 
use to fight against color.” 

"The Lord made you,” was Aunt Di- 
nah’s only reply, and he needed no other 
rebuke. 

He was quick to learn the details of his 
trade, and then a small back room was fitted 
up for a shop, where he worked, read, or 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


17 


drew the bow, sometimes merry, and some- 
times sad. 

This was the singer who went in search of 
Oily and Charley. 

" I thank you very much,” said Mira, as he 
paused beside her. "I could have gone, but 
your mother thought you needed exercise. 
She said you had been in the shop all day, 
neglecting even to sing.” 

"True, Miss Mira, I’ve been pretty still 
to-day, but when I got up the hill I couldn’t 
help singing. Everything looked so bright 
it inspired me.” 

"Then I am glad you went. Perhaps I 
might find inspiration on the hill-top. I have 
been in the valley all day.” 

"No need of that for one like you. You 
have everything to make you happy ; ” and 
the speaker looked down upon his own mis- 
shapen form. 

" Come, Sister Mi, see what Aunt Dinah is 
making.” 

Thus called Charley, interrupting the con- 
versation, and Mira went into the kitchen of 
2 


18 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


the brown house, where its mistress was pre- 
paring supper for two families. 

"We had better go home how,” she said. 
"Then there will be room for some one else.” 

"Some one else, chile,” repeated Aunt 
Dinah, without looking up from her work. 
"Them children never in my way. Some- 
thing’s the matter with you, honey ; ” and she 
allowed her eyes to rest for a moment upon 
the face of the young girl. " What is it ? ” 

"Nothing,” was the reply. "I was only 
afraid the children would trouble you.” 

" Do we trouble you ? ” asked Oily. 

"No, chile.. Aunt Dinah knows better’n 
that. ’Pears like I’m never troubled. Just 
hear that boy,” she said, as Rufus indulged in 
a hearty laugh. "Spect I said something 
wrong that time, else that boy wouldn’t laugh 
so. He’s mighty perticular,” she added, 
emphasizing the first syllable of the adjec- 
tive. Another laugh, and the children went 
out to see Rufus, who was sitting upon a 
bench near the kitchen window, where he 
could hear all that was said. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


19 


" What made yon laugh ? ” asked Oily. 

"Mother made me,” was the answer. 

" Children,” cried Aunt Dinah, "thank the 
Lord you’ve got learnin’. ’Pears like — ” 

" There it comes, again,” interrupted her 
son, good-naturedly ; and presently Aunt Di- 
nah showed her smiling face, made radiant by 
the consciousness that, whatever she might do, 
her boys could talk as well as white folks. 

" Supper ready in ten minutes,” she said in 
a loud voice. 

At this call Mira Dempster went through 
the garden to her home, followed by brother 
and sister, both eager to assist in laying the 
table. This was quickly done, and the moss- 
es exhibited, before Aunt Dinah made her 
appearance, with a plate of hot cakes which 
might have tempted an epicure. 

" TSnff more in the oven. Ring the bell, if 
you want um, honey. I must tend to that 
boy.” 

The speaker was gone before a reply could 
be made. The children were seated at the 
table, and a short blessing invoked by Mira. 


20 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" I love Aunt Dinah better every clay,” 
said Charley, after acknowledging that he 
could eat no more. 

" What makes you love her ? ” 

"Because she’s good, and makes such good 
things,” was the honest answer. 

" Is that a good reason ? ” asked Oily. 

" I presume Aunt Dinah would consider it 
so,” replied her sister. " She likes to have 
her cooking appreciated.” 

" Thought I’d bring more cakes,” said the 
cook. " Hope you like um. ’Pears like that 
boy eat his self to death,” she added, placing 
another plate of cakes upon the table. 

" I did like them very much ; but you 
brought us a bountiful supply at first. We 
need no more.” 

Notwithstanding this assurance, the cakes 
were left, with an injunction to eat every 
one. 

Supper over, Charley thought of his after- 
noon experience. In relating this, the new 
teacher and crickets were strangely mixed ; 
but Oily sometimes came to his assistance, so 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


21 


that, between the two, their sister received 
a pleasant description of what was to them 
quite an adventure. 

Mira Dempster had heard of Miss Marvin, 
and hoped to make her acquaintance. Having 
impressed Aunt Dinah favorably, it was safe 
to assume that she would prove intelligent 
and interesting; for this good woman was 
gifted with an intuitive knowledge of human 
nature, which was rarely at fault. 

Miss Marvin had just opened a private 
school, to # continue through the autumn 
months, and Edgar Freeman was desirous of 
attending, if the teacher should be one who 
could " see through his black skin.” 

This was his way of stating the matter, and, 
under the circumstances, it was not strange 
that his mother had looked closely at Miss 
Marvin, when she chanced to meet her in the 
village street. 

"No trouble ’bout her. You can go,” was 
the verdict ; and Edgar had made arrange- 
ments to enter school the following Monday. 

His employer made some objections to re- 


22 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


leasing him, saying that the boy knew enough 
already ; but Aunt Dinah soon silenced him. 
The boy had worked six months, and could 
afford to go to school, and as for knowing 
enough he was the best judge of that him- 
self. 

This boy stood six feet in his stockings, 
tall, straight, and muscular. A leader in all 
manly sports, he asserted and defended his 
rights with a good-humored independence 
which disarmed ridicule and opposition. He 
sometimes had bitter thoughts of the mark 
placed upon him, but he never allowed such 
thoughts to clothe themselves with words. 

A day’s work done, there was reward for 
his labor; and midnight often found him 
reading, oblivious of time or fatigue. This 
evening he was later than usual, having been 
detained to do an extra job. He had hardly 
satisfied his mother in regard to this, when 
he took down a slate, and began to cover it 
with figures, while the expression of his face 
showed that he was making some careful 
computation. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


23 


Looking up from this, after a while, he 
asked his mother what was Mr. Dempster’s 
business. 

" Making money, likely. That’s what folks 
do in the city,” was her evasive reply. 

"Well, how does he make money?” 

" Dear me ! There ! ’Pears like I’d better 
look after them children ’fore I sleep . Honey’s 
been in trouble to-day.” 

"She was singing when I came along,” 
responded Edgar, smiling at his mother’s 
manner of expressing herself. " She don’t 
need you now, and I want to know how her 
father makes his money.” 

"I tole you, boy, not to ask questions 
’bout things that don’t ’cern you,” said Aunt 
Dinah, roused to a temporary assertion of 
authority. " Spect you been talking about it. 
’Pears like you have ; ” and her voice grew hard 
and cold, as she clasped her hands tightly. 

Rufus laid down his book, while Edgar 
looked steadily at his mother, debating 
whether it was best to yield the point, or 
insist upon an answer to his question. 


24 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" Mother, should you like to have me work 
for him ? ” 

"Work for him ! ” she repeated, in an ex- 
cited tone. " Work for him here ? ” 

"No, in the city.” 

" Boy, what you talk ’bout ? Does he want 
you?” 

" He said something about it, when he was 
here the last time.” 

"Boy, I’d bury you, and dig the grave 
with my own hands, ’fore I’d let you work for 
Hiram Dempster. Don’t say no more about 
it,? she added. 

" Then tell me what his business is. There 
are plenty who know. Why shouldn’t I ? ” 

"You’ve heard ’bout it.” 

"Yes, I’ve heard.” 

" Then what for you ask me ? ” she continued. 

"Because I want to know if what I’ve 
heard is true. People say he keeps a great 
liquor-store, and has rooms where men drink 
and gamble. Is it so, mother?” 

"Yes, chile, spect dat is de solum trufe,” 
she replied, forgetting all proprieties of 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


25 


speech, as she was forced to make this ac- 
knowledgment . " He never ’ll say nothin’ more 
’bout your working for him. Never ! ” 

"Mother, does Mira know this?” now 
asked Rufus. 

"Yes, chile. She couldn’t help it. Spect 
you’ve seen her cryin’, haven’t you?” 

" I’ve seen her a great many times when I 
thought she had been crying, and I wondered 
what she had to cry for.” 

" ’Pears like we all have something. 
Course she loves her father, but he’s a bad 
man, fightin’ ’gainst the Lord.” 

This w T as said almost in a whisper, as 
though the speaker feared she might be 
overheard ; and then there was silence for 
some minutes ; at length Aunt Dinah took 
down the old family Bible. 

"Edgar, you must make me a promise, 
’fore we can sleep,” she said. 

" What promise ? ” 

"Will you make it?” she asked, looking 
at him earnestly. 

" I don’t know,” he replied. 


26 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" Dunno ’bout what your old mother asks ? ” 
she cried, laying her hand heavily upon his 
shoulder. 

" Tell me what it is you want, mother.” 

" Promise never to do anything for Hiram 
Dempster, ’cept what you do here,” she 
replied, slowly, never once turning her eyes 
from his face. 

He hesitated. 

" Promise ! ” said Kufus, in a hoarse voice. 

" I will promise,” said Edgar, seriously. 

" Then put your hand on the Bible,” re- 
sponded Aunt Dinah. 

He did as directed, repeating distinctly 
the words of a promise which placed him 
under most solemn obligations. 

"Now, boy, shut your mouth tight, when 
that man’s name’s spoke,” exclaimed his 
mother. " Them children’s near to me, and 
I’ll see to ’um ; but Hiram Dempster better 
not ’trade on my premises. There’ll be some 
talk when he comes.” 

" About what ? ” asked Edgar. 

" ’Bout you, boy. What you spose ? ” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


27 


"I hope you Won’t say anything about 
what has happened to-night. I’ve given you 
my word on the Bible, isn’t that enough? 
All the money he has couldn’t hire me to 
work for him now.” 

"I aint afraid ’bout that,” answered Aunt 
Dinah, a little sharply. "But there’s other 
things.” 

"Let them go, mother,” urged Rufus. 
" There is no use in talking too much.” 

" Spect there aint, but I knows my duty.” 

This said, she gave him the Bible, request- 
ing that he would read the ninety-first 
psalm. " I always like to hear that when 
I’m in trouble,” she remarked. "It com- 
forts me wonderfully.” 

The words of the first verse had hardly 
been pronounced, when Mira Dempster 
opened the door. 

" Come in, honey,” said Aunt Dinah, and 
without speaking, the young girl seated her- 
self in a low rocker. Traces of tears were 
upon her cheeks, moving to pity those who 
saw* them. 


28 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


Rufus at once resumed his reading, and 
when the psalm was ended bowed his head 
upon the table before him, while the others 
knelt. 

Such a prayer as followed few have heard, 
and fewer still have uttered. This humble 
woman, poor and unlettered, seemed to lay 
her hands upon the very mercy-seat. She 
asked for forgiveness of sins,* strength to re- 
sist temptation, patience to endure affliction, 
and wisdom to guide in the path of duty. 

At its close Mira Dempster rose from her 
knees, and passed out noiselessly as she had 
entered. 

"That chile in trouble,” said Aunt Dinah. 
"Spect she needs me.” 

"I think she does,” responded Rufus. 
"You had better stay with her to-night.” 

Nothing was said, as she busied herself 
about the room for a few minutes ; but when 
the door closed behind her Edgar turned to 
his brother, with the question, "Did you 
know about Mr. Dempster ? ” 

" I wasn’t sure of it, though I suspected 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


29 


something wrong about him, from the first. 
I’ve heard a good deal said at different times ; 
and I asked mother about it once.” 

"Of course she tried to put you off.” 

" More than that. She told me never to 
speak of it again.” 

" I didn’t know but she would tell me so ; 
but I was determined to find out some way. 
When he was here the last time, he told me 
he would give me three times what I could 
make here, if I would go to the city with 
him. It was quite a temptation, for I am 
bound to have money, if I can get it 
honestly.” 

" Then you must get it in some other way 
than selling liquor.” 

" Somebody will sell liquor, if I don’t.” 

Rufus turned squarely to his brother as 
this was said. "Suppose somebody else 
does? The sin won’t lie at your door, if 
you have nothing to do with it. If I was 
straight as you are, I wouldn’t talk about 
selling liquor.” 

" Come, old fellow, don’t be too hard on 


30 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


me,” exclaimed Edgar, in a laughing tone. 
" I’ve no idea of going into the liquor busi- 
ness.” # 

" I should like to know why mother gave 
up making beer, when those children came 
here,” he added soon after. 

"I can tell you,” replied Eufus. "Mira 
didn’t want Oily and Charley to drink it. 
She said milk and cold water were all they 
needed.” 

" She was about right there, but it will be 
strange if Charley don’t follow in his father’s 
footsteps. I begin to see why mother is so 
much interested in them.” 

Only dimly was he beginning to see ; for 
he knew very little of the circumstances 
which had made Aunt Dinah, in some 
measure, the guardian of Hiram Dempster’s 
children. 


II. 


For greed of gain, one stoops to sin; 
Unheeding that, to lose or win, 

He stakes a human soul, 

With all its hope, and all its fear: 
Stakes all he holds most near and dear, 
Beyond his love’s control. 


At the garden-gate Aunt Dinah paused 
and looked up. Above her was a cloudless 
sky, in which the moon shone, full and 
resplendent. But her eyes looked beyond 
this fair seeming. Piercing its azure depths, 
she caught a glimpse of Him who looks 
down with pity upon the sorrowing and 
tempted. 

This was enough. She had gained the 
strength she sought. The heavy burden was 
lifted, and a smile lighted up her dark face. 
"The good Lord knows all ’bout it,” she 
murmured ; and this never-failing consolation 
was sufficient for her needs. 

Directly after, a cheerful voice was heard, 

31 


32 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


and Mira Dempster sprang from the couch 
on which she was reclining. 

O 

0 Aunt Dinah, I am so glad you have 
come ! ” was her first exclamation. "I am 
very lonely this evening.” 

"I spected as much, honey; and thought 
ole auntie might be better’ n nobody. What 
you been thinkin’ ’bout ? ” 

” About father and Albert.” 

"’Taint no use, chile, only when you pray 
de good Lord for urn. I knows ’bout that.” 

But I can’t help it,” replied the young 
girl, as she drew a footstool to the side of 
Aunt Dinah. "If mother had only lived.” 

"Don’t wish her back, chile. She all 
done with trouble now.” 

I don t wish her back ; but she knew so 
much better than I what to do. She might 
save Albert and Charley.” 

" Spect de good Lord can save urn. He’s 
able.” 

"O Aunt Dinah, do you believe he will?” 
now asked Mira, in a tone which evinced 
the deepest anxiety. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


33 


* ’Pears like lie would,” was the reply. 
" What’s ’come of your faith, child?” 

" I don’t know ; but ever since I received 
father’s last letter, things have gone wrong 
with me. You know Albert is coming with 
him, and I am afraid of their influence over 
Charley. Albert always laughs at my scru- 
ples.” 

"They won’t have none of their liquor 
here, chile,” said Aunt Dinah, decidedly. 
"I’ll take care ’bout that.” 

"That is not all the trouble.” 

"I know,” was the quick response. 
"There’ll be dirty pipes and ’bacco, all day 
long. I’ll speak ’bout that too.” 

"I am afraid it will do more hurt than 
good,” said Mira. "Albert is an inveterate 
smoker, and impatient of anything like re- 
straint. He is a swearer too.” 

" Well, honey, we’ll see ’bout that. Don’t 
worry;” and a large, coarse hand passed 
caressingly over the bowed head. " ’Pears 
like there’ll be a way.” 

Thus Aunt Dinah endeavored to comfort 


3 


34 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


and cheer one, who, in the very spring-time 
of life, shrank from its burdens. Gradually 
her influence was felt, and despondency gave 
way to hope. 

" You will stay here to-night,” said Mira, 
after a short silence. 

"Yes, chile, I tole them boys so. Spected 
you’d want me.” 

An hour later Aunt Dinah sat alone in 
the chamber allotted to her use. The chil- 
dren were sleeping. She had bent over each 
one fondly, praying — oh, so earnestly! — 
that they might be kept from temptation and 
sin. 

Dinah Freeman sometimes called herself 
old ; while perhaps in the next breath she 
would declare she never felt younger. But 
now, as she looked back over quarter of a 
century, the way seemed long. 

Twenty-five years before she had come 
from the city, and engaged as servant in the 
family of a wealthy farmer. Her previous 
life had been one of hardship, as was evident 
from her appearance. Of her parents she 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


35 


knew very little, not having seen them since 
she was a child. 

Under these circumstances, it was not 
strange that her naturally warm heart re- 
sponded to kindness. She became a faithful 
and affectionate servant, devoted to the in- 
terests of those who employed her, lavishing 
upon the two daughters of the family the 
fondest expressions of regard and using 
every means to add to their happiness. 

At this time Hiram Dempster was a 
frequent visitor in the home of Mr. Gibson, 
and it required no great penetration to see 
that he was a favorite with all. A young 
man of good business talents, with some 
means at his command, he indulged in ambi- 
tious dreams of wealth. Making haste to be 
rich, he was not over-scrupulous in regard 
to ways and means. Through the represen- 
tations of a professed friend he had been 
induced to enter a large establishment where 
liquors were skilfully manufactured, to be 
sold at a great profit. After two years, in 
which he proved a valuable assistant, he was 


36 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


admitted to the firm, and considered himself 
on the high road to fortune. 

Soon after, Mira Gibson became his wife, 
and received the congratulations of friends 
upon the brilliant prospect before her. Gen- 
tle and loving, her husband seemed to her 
all that woman could desire ; and with 
bright anticipations she left her country 
home. 

Dinah Manuel alone had misgivings in 
regard to the future. By severe lessons and 
bitter experience she had learned that smooth 
wbrds and ready smiles are not, necessarily, 
proofs of a kind heart. 

As I have to do with the children whom 
Providence had placed in his care, it is not 
my purpose to give a detailed account of 
Hiram Dempster’s life. It is only neces- 
sary to say that his wife soon found she 
occupied but a secondary place in his affec- 
tions. 

He loved money, first and best ; not as 
the miser, who would deny himself food and 
clothing, that he might add another dollar to 


aunt Dinah’s pledge. 


37 


his hoard ; but greed of gain was the ruling 
passion of this man’s life. All else must be 
subservient. 

The grossest deceptions were practised ; 
and so they were not discovered it mattered 
little to him. When his wife remonstrated, 
she was told that women knew nothing of 
business, and she had better attend to what 
concerned her. The silence thus enjoined 
was never broken until the day of her death. 
Even when she knew that her husband was 
indulging too freely in the use of liquors, 
manufactured for others, she uttered neither 
entreaty nor complaint.' During her visits 
to the old home she so carefully concealed 
all traces of unhappiness that only Dinah 
suspected the true state of affairs. Mr. and 
Mrs. Gibson died, believing that their daugh- 
ter had married fortunately. 

At their death, which occurred three years 
after Hiram Dempster’s marriage, Dinah 
Manuel was strongly urged by his wife to 
come to her. 

But Dinah had other plans. She was 


38 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


looking forward to a home of her own. 
However, after much persuasion, and some 
consultation with Eufus Freeman, she con- 
sented to spend six months with one who 
had such strong claims upon her sympathy 
and affection. 

The revelations of these months confirmed 
her distrust of Mr. Dempster. Learning 
enough of his business to know that it was 
dishonest and dishonorable, most sincerely 
did she pity her who was bound to his for- 
tunes. 

A child was born, during these months, 
but it opened its eyes upon the fair earth, 
only to close them ere a week had passed. 
The mother shed bitter tears, even while 
thankful that her child had gone w T here was 
no sorrow or disappointment; while the 
father was too much engrossed in his busi- 
ness either to rejoice or mourn. 

"You will come again, if I need you,” 
said Mrs. Dempster, w r hen she parted from 
her favorite servant. 

" If I can,” was the reply. " Count on me,” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 39 

added Dinah, through her tears. "’Pears 
like you’ll want somebody some time.” 

In her own home, the little brown cottage 
where she now dwelt, she thought often* of 
this parting, murmuring to herself, "She’ll 
want somebody some time.” 

Having no relatives in her native town, 
Mrs. Dempster visited there but once after 
her parents’ death. She had no wish to look 
upon her childhood’s home, now passed into 
the hands of strangers ; and did so only at 
the urgent request of her sister. The con- 
trast between her present and former life was 
too great. 

She had money without stint ; but to gain 
it her husband was bringing ruin to others. 
This thought haunted her, sleeping or wak- 
ing ; all the more terrible that she gave it no 
utterance. She almost envied Dinah Free- 
man, despite the mark upon her. 

" You seem very happy,” said this woman 
of wealth to her who counted the smallest 
earnings. 

"Spect I am happy,” was the smiling re- 


40 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


ply, as she bent over a cradle which con- 
tained, for her, the dearest baby in the 
world. 

There came a time when Mrs. Dempster 
needed Dinah, and so longed for her pres- 
ence that a message was despatched, urging 
her to come at once. She could go. Her 
baby had grown to be a strong, healthy boy, 
four years of age, needing little care, and 
quite satisfied if allowed to roll and tumble 
at his own sweet will. 

"’Pears like I must go right off,” said 
Dinah, hastening to make all needful provis- 
ion for those she left behind. Her husband 
lent his aid, and she was soon ready. He 
could " see to the boy,” and keep the house 
in order. 

"Pray the good Lord for me,” said his 
wife, when about to bid him good-by ; " spect 
I’ll find trouble.” 

Mrs. Dempster was sick unto death. 
Disappointed hopes, blighted anticipations, 
and a crushing sense of guilt, which in some 
way she seemed to share, had well-nigh 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


41 


done their work. She grieved to leave her 
child, the "Sister Mi” of our story, but, 
aside from this, she felt no regret at laying 
down a burdened life. 

Dinah ministered to her wants with the 
utmost tenderness. Although spending little 
time in the sick-room, Hiram Dempster 
spared no expense in providing for her the 
* best medical treatment. 

At length the last day came, and he was 
summoned to the bedside of his dying wife. 

" I have much to say to you, my husband,” 
she whispered. " I have kept silent all these 
years, as you bade me ; but I can do so no 
longer.” 

His heart smote him with a sudden pain, 
as he remembered the words she had spoken 
in the early days of their marriage. At that 
moment he would have made any sacrifice to 
prolong her life, — given any promise she 
might demand. 

But the Angel of Death came suddenly, 
laying an icy hand upon the parted lips. 
One only request had she proffered. 


42 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" Let our child go to my sister, and O my 
husband — ” 

Here the voice was hushed. What more 
she would have said none ever knew. 

The child was immediately given into the 
care of her aunt, while Mr. Dempster turned 
to his old idol, gain. He was still pressing 
forward in the pursuit of wealth, when one 
of his partners disappeared, taking a large 
amount of money belonging to the firm. 
Upon investigation it was found that his 
dishonesty had been great, and the shrewd- 
est management was necessary to preserve 
the credit of the establishment. 

This was a severe blow to the man who 
looked upon money as the greatest earthly 
good ; but it only served to inspire him with 
new ardor. By great effort and untiring 
application, the past was retrieved, and again 
fortune smiled upon him. 

His daughter was eight years of age when 
he contracted a second marriage with a most 
amiable and accomplished lady. Having 
seen him only under favorable circumstances, 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


43 


she was ignorant of his faults, while, so far 
as his business was concerned, he was no 
worse than some of her own relatives. 

Soon after this marriage, the sister of his 
first wife, and her husband, both died, leav- 
ing one child, a boy, who, with his own lit- 
tle Mira, was taken to the home of Hiram 
Dempster. 

Here they were most affectionately wel- 
comed by her who was to assume their care ; 
while the father and uncle was nothing loth 
to receive them, since, as the guardian of 
Albert Wilson, he would control the property 
left by his parents. 

His ward was a smart, active boy, some- 
what impulsive, but possessing an affection- 
ate nature, through which he could be easily 
managed. While he grieved for the loss of 
father and mother, Mrs. Dempster, by her * 
sympathy and kindness, soon obtained a 

c- strong influence over him. 

© • 

Both he and Mira were speedily reconciled 
to their new home, the latter loving her 
mother with a devotion rarely seen. They 


44 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


could not have found a better friend, but, 
unfortunately, in Albert’s case, Mr. Demp- 
ster’s influence was in direct opposition to 
that of his wife. His example destroyed the 
force of her best teachings. 

She remonstrated, urging the claims of 
duty upon him. Now that the interests of 
others were at stake she did not hesitate to 
speak plainly. 

Her husband was not one to brook inter- 
ference ; but, for once, a woman’s words had 
some power over him. 

"I have no wish to injure the boy,” he 
said. "Albert is doing well enough.” 

"No, my husband, he is not doing well 
enough,” was the reply. "His moral sensi- 
bilities are becoming blunted, and he often 
quotes you as authority against me. If you 
would forbid his entering your store there 
would be one point gained. I should be 
glad if he would never see liquors of any 
kind. I would banish wine from our table 
if it depended upon me.” 

" Nonsense ! you are going too far. Liq- 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


45 


uors of all kinds will meet Albert at every 
turn in life, and he will be likely to use 
them.” 

" I hope not,” replied Mrs. Dempster. 
"If he does, he shall not reproach me with 
it. I should be sorry to have him grow up 
like most of our young men ; and lately I 
have been thinking that such as you, who 
deal largely in liquors, will find a great wrong 
at your door.” 

"People choose for themselves,” was the 
reply of this respectable liquor merchant. 
"I am not responsible for others. Albert 
must take his chance with the rest.” 

Mrs. Dempster turned away, with less 
respect for her husband, but with her pur- 
pose nothing shaken. She would guard this 
boy, and save him from evil, so far as God 
should give her strength. 

She watched over him carefully, restrain- 
ing when it was possible, and striving to lead 
him in the right way ; but as he grew older 
her counsels had less influence. 

Mira, who was Albert’s constant compan- 


46 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


ion when at home, often reproved him for 
the use of improper language. Upon one 
occasion, when she had manifested more 
feeling than usual, he replied that Uncle 
Hiram used such words all the time. 

"Well, they are wicked, if he does,” said 
Mira ; "but I never heard him.” 

" If you want to know how he talks you 
should go to the store,” retorted Albert. 
"That’s the place to hear him.” 

" It must be a dreadful wicked place then. 
I wish father wouldn’t stay there ; ” and since 
that day Mira’s opinion and wish had been 
often repeated. More reason was there 
now than then ; but I will not anticipate. 

Two children were born in this family, and 
love for them quickened the mother’s regard 
for others. But her strength and sympathies 
were overtaxed. When Charley was a few 
months old her health began to fail. 

A quiet retreat in the country was recom- 
mended, and for some reason choice was 
made of the village where Mr. Dempster had 
wooed and won his first wife. A servant 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


47 


accompanied the family ; but soon after their 
arrival it was found necessary to summon 
Dinah Freeman, and, as she made herself 
generally useful, her services were in fre- 
quent requisition. 

For Mira she had retained a strong affec- 
tion, which soon extended to mother and 
children. Olive was delighted with one 
who petted and caressed her so fondly ; 
while Charley sprang to her arms gleefully. 

Through all the summer months Mrs. 
Dempster lingered here, and then went home 
to die. Mindful of their children, she exact- 
ed from her husband a promise that they 
should be educated in the country, and it 
was in consequence of this promise that he 
had bought the cottage where they now 
lived. 

Mira was only fourteen years of age when 
again deprived of a mother’s care ; but expe- 
rience and observation had given her more 
knowledge of the springs of human action 
than is sometimes learned in a long lifetime. 
She had been her mother’s confidant, un- 


48 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


derstanding her wishes, and knowing her 
anxiety. 

Albert was absent from home at the time 
of Mrs. Dempster’s death ; but he was not 
forgotten. She left a message, which Mira 
delivered with faltering voice, begging that 
it might be heeded. 

"I will try to do better,” said the boy, for 
a moment realizing his danger. "I could, 
if—” 

He did not finish the sentence, but sprang 
away, leaving his cousin to imagine what it 
might be. 

He had taken " his chance with others ; ” 
and the temptations to evil were stronger than 
the influences against it. In school he had 
the reputation of being a brilliant scholar, 
yet his irregularities of conduct subjected 
him to frequent reprimand. Only sixteen, 
he drank, smoked, and swore like one of 
twice his age. Wine was always upon his 
uncle’s table ; while in the store, different 
brands of liquors, with their distinguishing 
flavors, were the constant theme of discus- 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


49 


sion. Here Albert was often complimented 
upon his discrimination in matters of which 
he should have been profoundly ignorant. 

Despite all this, his guardian made no 
effort to stay his downward career. Mira’s 
pleadings were of no avail, and his father’s 
friends, living at a distance, knew little of 
him. Moreover, he had the ability to pre- 
sent so fair an exterior, when it suited his 
purpose, that one might be easily deceived 
in regard to his character. Sometimes, as 
he thought of the mother who had taught 
him to pray, his conscience smote him, and* 
he half resolved to reform ; but there was 
always some reason why reform was de- 
layed. 

As I have before said, his uncle made no 
effort to stay his course. If the boy lived 
five years, there would come a day of reckon- 
ing ; and it might not be convenient to deal 
with one clear-headed and independent. So 
low had Hiram Dempster fallen, that the 
thought of rendering up a fortune, to which 
he had not the slightest claim, filled him 

4 


50 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


with dismay. And this was not strange. 
The man who deals in that which incites to 
the vilest crimes, degrading human nature 
throughout the whole wide world, will sel- 
dom act justly in any relation. 

For two years after the death of his wife 
Mr. Dempster kept the children with him. 
He then bought the cottage adjoining Dinah 
Freeman’s, fitted it up handsomely, and in- 
stalled Mira as its mistress. Why he should 
have selected this place it would be difficult 
to tell, unless his daughter’s wishes influ- 
enced him. She fancied the situation, while 
its close proximity to her old friend made it 
seem more desirable. 

Her father was willing to provide servants, 
but she preferred trusting to Aunt Dinah, 
in whose capabilities she had the utmost con- 
fidence. Here, for a time, she seemed to 
have escaped all the trials of life. Her 
brother and sister were too young to be the 
source of much anxiety; while, away from 
her father and Albert, she thought less of 
their wrong doings. She received many 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


51 


kind attentions from those who had known 
her mother ; and, so far as her surroundings 
were concerned, she could not have been 
more pleasantly situated. Yet, when the 
first few months had passed in her country 
home, and she had leisure for reflection, the 
care and responsibility which had been 
thrown upon her seemed more than she 
could bear. For Oily she had no fears ; but 
Charley possessed a strong will, which some- 
times asserted itself unpleasantly. 

Aunt Dinah was then her only comforter ; 
and always the good woman bade her not 
to worry. " ’Pears like ’twill all come right 
in the end,” was her consoling assurance. 

Sometimes Mira caught something of this 
cheerful faith, but frequently she wept and 
prayed in utter hopelessness. 

Albert had visited her twice; but the 
place was not to his liking. He had lost all 
taste for quiet pleasures. Smoking seemed 
to be his only resource while here ; and this 
so annoyed Mira that she was glad when his 
visits were at an end. Now, he was coming 


52 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


with her father, and she shrank from seeing 
either. 

Thus far, in compliance with his daugh- 
ter’s wishes, Mr. Dempster had placed no 
wine upon her table ; and for this she was 
grateful. Charley’s good had been consid- 
ered in this, as in the request made to Aunt 
Dinah that she would brew no more beer. 

"I know you will think me foolish,” said 
Mira to her humble friend. "Perhaps I 
am unreasonable, but I am afraid to have 
Charley taste it ; and this could hardly be 
avoided, if it was used in your family.” 

" I know all ’bout it, chile,” said Aunt 
Dinah. " Spect my boys can drink cold 
water when they’re dry.” 

Kufus was told the reason for this new 
order of things ; but Edgar had not learned 
it, until the evening he insisted upon know- 
ing Hiram Dempster’s business. 

As may be imagined, his brain was too 
active for sleep the following night. He had 
the clue to many things which had before 
seemed unaccountable; -and he lay wide 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


53 


awake, thinking, until daylight streamed 
through the low window of his room. 

His mother had been as wakeful as him- 
self. Danger threatened her, and she must, 
in some way, avert it. She was fertile in 
expedients, sometimes reaching the desired 
end by a circuitous route ; but with her chil- 
dren she was frank and decided. If bitter 
medicine was to be taken she never sought 
to disguise it. 

Her children were truthful and honest, 
regarding their word as sacred. She pro- 
posed now to bind them to a certain course 
of action, by a promise so strong they 
would not dare break it, under any circum- 
stances. She had exacted but few promises 
from them during their lives ; but now the 
occasion seemed to warrant a departure from 
her usual custom. 

When she reached the garden gate that 
morning, she turned, looking back to the 
house she had left. It contained three chil- 
dren whom she loved next to her own, but 
she might well be pardoned if at that mo- 


54 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


ment she wished Hiram Dempster had never 
crossed her path. "A bad man,” she mut- 
tered through clenched teeth, and walked 
on. 

Edgar soon made his appearance in the 
kitchen, she looking at him sharply. "Hope 
you slep’ well, chile,” she said. 

" Guess I haven’t slept enough to hurt me,” 
was the reply, as he plunged his head into a 
basin of cold water. 

"Well, chile, come home early to-night, 
and we’ll have a talk ’bout things.” 

"I’ll come, as soon as my work is done,” 
replied Edgar. "I shan’t feel much like 
stopping to play.” 

"Spect somethin’s the matter with that 
boy, else he’d whistle,” said Aunt Dinah, 
watching him as he strode away over the 
dew-laden grass. "Spect somethin’s the 
matter.” 

It seemed to Rufus that his mother had 
never made so much noise about the stove 
as on that particular morning. 

"What is the matter?” he asked. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


55 


"Trouble cornin’,” was the laconic reply. 

"Well, mother, let us wait till it comes, 
and then do the best we can. I thought you 
never borrowed trouble.” 

" Spect I don’t, chile. It’s been sent.” 

" But you said it was coming,” responded 
Rufus r cheerfully. 

"Well, chile, I know all ’bout it, ’ready,” 
she answered, vigorously beating some eggs. 
"That man’s coming.” 

."You mean Mr. Dempster, mother?” 

" Spect I do ; and that boy’s cornin’ long 
too.” 

"Well, mother, they can’t hurt us.” 

"There, boy, can’t you say nothin’ else 
but that?” exclaimed Aunt Dinah, dropping 
into a chair, as though quite overcome by her 
feelings. " I know about that man ; he wants 
Edgar.” 

"Well, mother, you have made sure of 
him. He is safe, after the promise he gave 
you last night.” 

" There’s ways nuff to lead off a boy, and 
that boy knows ’em all. You’ll see.” 


56 


aunt binah’s pledge. 


Rufus, seeing that his mother was inclined 
to he mysterious, wisely changed the subject ; 
but he gained little. Aunt Dinah was medi- 
tating, and, breakfast over, her son gladly 
betook himself to the shop. 

Mira Dempster devoted the morning hours 
to teaching her brother and sister. In the 
afternoon they went up the hill to gather 
mosses, and entrap crickets, Charley being 
in high glee at his success. On his return, 
he told Rufus that there was no temptation 
in the tin cup; so the captives arrived 
safely. 

The day passed ; its hours dragging slow- 
ly for the mother who thought and feared. 
Night came, and Edgar’s cheery whistle was 
heard. Charley ran down the walk, and, 
reaching up his hands, was placed upon 
a broad shoulder, where he rode trium- 
phantly. 

"Which way?” asked the carrier, as he 
stood by the garden gate. 

" Please let Aunt Dinah see me,” answered 
Charley; and directly the good woman 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


57 


threw up her hands in well-feigned astonish- 
ment, as the two stood before her. 

Edgar sat down, with the child still 
perched upon his shoulder, but he soon ex- 
claimed, " I must go home. Sister Mi is going 
to tell us a story, and I promised not to 
stop.” 

" I wish somebody would tell me a story,” 
said Rufus. 

" Sister Mi will tell you one,” was the art- 
less reply. "She has been making up 
some.” 

As Charley went out, Aunt Dinah seated 
herself in a large rocking-chair, with the air 
of one who has a disagreeable task to per- 
form. 

"Boys, I’ve been thinkin’ all day — ” Here 
she paused, as though waiting for some en- 
couragement to proceed. 

"I guess we have all been thinking,” 
responded Edgar. " I am sure I have ; and 
had some strange thoughts too.” 

" What ’bout, chile ? ” asked his mother. 

"About a good many things.” 


58 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


"I thought ’bout my children all day,” 
now said Aunt Dinah. "There’s trouble 
cornin’.” 

"Don’t say that, mother. You are not 
sure of it,” urged Rufus. 

" What is it ? ” asked Edgar. 

" Spect I know ; and I must have ’nother 
promise.” 

"Another ! ” cried both the sons, in aston- 
ishment. 

"Yes, boys, ’nother ; ” and then, in broken 
words, this mother, with a clearness and 
decision of which many fairer women would 
be incapable, explained her position, and 
their own. In doing this, it was necessary 
to speak of many things, in regard to which 
she had before kept silence ; but she trusted 
the honor of her boys. 

They had not yet been exposed to the se- 
ductions of intemperance ; and, so far as 
Rufus was concerned, there was little cause 
for anxiety in the future. Edgar would 
soon go out into the world, to meet tempta- 
tion in every form. Moreover, there was 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


59 


danger that temptation would assail him 
within the shadow of his home. 

Aunt Dinah had no reason to complain of 
inattentive listeners. Her subject was one 
of interest, and her revelations startling. 

" Now, boys, I’ve heard ’bout a pledge folks 
take,” she said, at length. "I don’t know 
nothin’ what ’tis, ’cept it’s a promise not to 
touch the cursed drink.” 

"No danger of our doing that,” replied 
her youngest son. " We can’t even get a cup 
of beer.” 

"Well, chile, you know all ’bout that 
now. Spect you can promise, can’t you?” 

"But you haven’t any pledge. Write one, 
and I’ll sign it.” 

" Hear dat boy ! ” exclaimed Aunt Dinah, 
in an indignant tone, covering her face as she 
thought of her ignorance. 

Rufus looked at his brother, as though 
expecting an apology. 

"I am sorry, mother. I had forgotten.” 

This was sufficient. There was no time to 
linger over unimportant matters. 


60 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


After some further conversation, Kufus 
drew up a pledge, not unlike that of the 
Bands of Hope. It covered the whole 
ground, differing only in language. 

" Put in the ’bacco,” said Aunt Dinah. 

"No need of that,” responded Edgar. "I 
hate the dirty stuff any way ; ” hut his 
mother insisted. 

" Now bless de good Lord,” she exclaimed, 
looking at the three signatures, against one 
of which she had placed her mark. 


III. 


Father’s coming: words of gladness, 

To be uttered with a smile; 

Yet dark days of grief and sadness 
Oft they bring, with tears the while. 


" Father’s coming,” whispered Charley, 
as the first gray light of morning peeped 
into his room. "Father’s coming,” he re- 
peated, in a louder tone, before Oily was 
roused from her slumbers. 

"He won’t be here till almost night,” 
replied the sister, composing herself for 
another nap. 

Charley crept back to his little bed, and 
spent the next hour in wondering what his 
father would bring. 

Very differently was Mira occupied. She 
feared what her father would bring, and 
dreaded what he might leave. Albert, too, 
now a young man nearly twenty years of 
age, was an object of aversion. During his 

61 


62 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


last visit, he had displayed great reckless- 
ness, and the fact that he was now engaged 
as her father’s book-keeper tended to increase 
her distrust of him. Yet, remembering how 
earnestly her mother had sought to influence 
and save him, she was constantly striving to 
devise some scheme by which this might be 
accomplished. 

From her father she could expect nothing ; 
indeed, various circumstances had led her to 
believe that Albert’s ruin had been deliber- 
ately planned. This was a rather strong 
way of expressing what came very near the 
truth. Hiram Dempster had allowed the 
boy to ruin himself : placing temptation in 
his path, and giving him every facility on the 
downward road. 

Yet he still retained some traits of the 
affectionate child, for whom a Christian 
mother had prayed. Quickly moved at the 
sight of distress in others, he performed 
many generous acts. 

But he was bound to live fast. A short 
life and a merry one was his motto, while he 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


63 


prided himself upon the coolness with which 
he could parry well-meant advice. 

The gambling-rooms connected with Mr. 
Dempster’s establishment had been opened 
soon after the country home was* purchased. 
Ostensibly, they had been fitted up as a place 
of amusement for gentlemen who had a leis- 
ure hour upon their hands. In reality, they 
were intended to aid the process of money- 
making. 

Mr. Dempster was a skilful gambler ; and 
sometimes, when not otherwise occupied, 
indulged himself in a game. Of course, 
Albert followed his example. 

Do you wonder that a pure young girl 
shrank from the presence of such men, even 
though they were bound to her by the ties 
of blood? If she had been blind to their 
faults, she might have welcomed them glad- 
ly ; but, alas, her eyes had been opened. 

A busy day followed. The house was put 
in order, and everything arranged for the 
comfort of the expected guests. Charley 
watched eagerly ; Oily manifested some im- 


64 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


patience ; but Mira was schooling herself for 
the approaching trial. 

She had never looked more lovely than on 
that evening. A fire had been kindled in 
the old-fashioned fireplace of the dining- 
room; and she was standing in its glow, 
when her father and Albert entered. 

"I am very glad to see you, my daughter,” 
said Mr. Dempster, touching his lips lightly 
to her forehead. 

"Keally, cousin, you eclipse yourself,” 
exclaimed Albert, giving her a hearty kiss, 
which revealed the fact that he was no 
stranger to the wine-cup. " You grow hand- 
some,” he added. "Milk and cold water 
must agree with you.” 

"They do,” was the quiet reply. "It 
might be well for you to try their effect upon 
yourself.” 

"Not this year, thank you,” he answered, 
with a mocking bow. "Well, Charley, 
smoked your first cigar yet?” he asked, in 
the same reckless tone, turning to the child, 
who looked at him with wondering eyes. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


65 


"It is about time you were beginning to 
learn some of the manly habits.” 

" You will oblige me by not talking to my 
brother in that way,” said Mira, with a great 
effort at self-control. 

"Let him alone,” added the father, some- 
what sternly. 

Here the conversation was interrupted by 
the entrance of Aunt Dinah, bearing in one 
hand a pot of coffee, and in the other a plate 
of hot muffins. Mr. Dempster greeted her 
cordially, and Albert appeared glad to see 
her; but she was not inclined to talk. 
" Supper is ready,” she said, placing herself 
behind Mira’s chair. 

Everything upon the table, was compli- 
mented, the coffee receiving extravagant 
praise. "You might make your fortune in 
the city, by opening a coffee saloon,” said 
Mr. Dempster. " This is perfect.” 

" Spect the cream has somethin’ to do ’bout 
that,” replied Aunt Dinah, in no gracious 
mood. 

Supper ended, Albert looked around the 
5 


66 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


prettily furnished room, saying, with a super- 
cilious smile, " I suppose it would hardly do 
to smoke here.” 

" It is utterly forbidden,” answered Mira. 

" How about the kitchen ? ” 

" That is Aunt Dinah’s domain.” 

" What are you going to do ? ” now asked 
Albert, turning to his uncle. 

" Going to sit down here, and make my- 
self comfortable,” was the reply. 

" Unfortunately, I must smoke,” said the 
young gentleman, opening the hall door. 

"We might go into the sitting-room,” said 
Mira. 

"I prefer remaining here,” replied her 
father. " It seems very cheerful,” he added, 
clasping his two youngest children in his 
arms. "You must excuse Albert. He com- 
plained of not feeling well, during our ride, 
and drank rather more wine than was good 
for him. He will be all right in the morn- 
ing.” 

" I hope so,” answered Mira. " I can’t have 
him talk to Charley as he did this evening.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


67 


" You shall not be troubled in that way 
again. I will attend to that.” 

Aunt Dinah overheard this conversation, 
and rejoiced ai Mira’s courage. 

Meanwhile, Albert was out of doors smok- 
ing; vexed with himself and the world in 
general. He was ashamed of his rudeness. 

Presently Edgar Freeman came in sight. 
"Now for some fun,” thought the lonely 
smoker ; and, after salutations had been ex- 
changed, he took out his cigar-case, and 
offered one of the fragrant rolls to his com- 
panion. 

"No, thank you ; this child never smokes,” 
was the laughing reply. 

"Never smoked in your life?” asked 
Albert. 

"I tried it once, and got sick. That will 
answer for this child. No more such stuff 
for me.” 

"Try again. Don’t give up so. One 
loses half the pleasure in life, if he don’t 
know how to enjoy a good cigar. Come, 
take one,” he added, after making this wise 


68 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


assertion. " I shall be offended if you per- 
sist in refusing.” 

This last, uttered in a somewhat overbear- 
ing tone, was not quite to Edgar’s taste, and 
he answered, decidedly, " I shall never smoke 
while I have my senses. I have something 
else to do.” 

Saying this, he strode on, leaving the 
young gentleman somewhat disconcerted. 
He had reckoned without his host, and 
missed the anticipated fun. "We’ll see, 
darkey,” he muttered. " There’s more than 
one way to bring a fellow to terms.” 

Aunt Dinah would have shuddered, had 
she known what was passing in Albert Wil- 
son’s mind at that moment. But there was 
a good Lord over all* and a strong pledge 
registered. 

" Sister Mi reads in the Bible every night,” 
said Charley to his father, as the evening 
waned. " Don’t you want to hear her ? ” 

Now, if Hiram Dempster had expressed 
the true sentiments of his heart, he would 
have answered " No ; ” but with two sweet 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


69 


young faces pressed close to his own he 
could not do this. 

So Mira opened the Bible and commenced 
reading, when Albert came in. At first he 
was undecided what to do, but after a mo- 
ment’s hesitation seated himself in the back 
part of the room. The reader did not even 
raise her eyes ; but she felt his presence, and 
with difficulty commanded her voice. 

Reading over, Oily and Charley kissed 
their father good-night, and followed Mira 
from the room. 

" Don’t speak to Charley again as you did 
this evening,” said Mr. Dempster to his 
nephew. " It annoys Mira, and displeases me.” 

"No harm done, I guess,” was the half-in- 
solent reply. "He might as well learn to 
smoke now as any time.” 

" I wish he might never learn.” 

Albert looked up in surprise, as this was 
said. " I thought you believed in smoking. 
This is the first time I ever heard you say 
anything against it. You had no objection 
to my learning.” 


70 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


Mr. Dempster winced at this last remark. 
It was true that he had made no such objec- 
tion ; but Charley was his own son, an inno- 
cent child. 

" Perhaps I didn’t ; but you were not a 
baby.” 

"I see the difference,” w^as the sarcastic 
reply. " I suppose my father loved his boy 
as well as you do yours. If he had lived, I 
might have been better. But I shall get 
through the world some way. Life is short, 
and soon over.” 

Saying this, Albert rose and went into the 
kitchen ; not because he wished to see Aunt 
Dinah, but in his present state of mind any 
change was desirable. 

"Well, auntie, I don’t see as you grow 
old. A wonderful place up here for keeping 
young, and growing handsome.” 

" Spect the place good nuff,” was the ready 
response. "Don’t have no trouble here, ’less 
somebody brings it.” 

"I never have trouble anywhere. Give 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


71 


me a bottle of wine, with some good cigars, 
and I could be happy in a desert.” 

" ’Taint no use talkin’ that to me, chile,” 
exclaimed Aunt Dinah, resting from her 
work. " ’Pears like you aint never happy. 
What your mother say to see you now ? ” 

Albert Wilson was dumb. His cool as- 
surance was no match for the direct remarks 
and questions of this woman. She had 
known and loved his mother. 

" I wish mother had lived,” he said 

" Spect it’s well she didn’t. You’d broke 
her heart.” 

" There’s nobody’s heart to break now,” he 
answered, bitterly. "I lost my last friend 
when Aunt Maria died.” 

"What for you talk like that, chile?” 
asked his companion. "You’ve friends nuff.” 

"Such as they are,” he added. "I know 
I’m a bad fellow, Aunt Dinah ; but there’s no 
help for it. I expect my pretty saint of a 
cousin would like to turn me out of the 
house ; but, unfortunately, I am ticketed here 
for the next few days, and must stay.” 


72 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


Aunt Dinah was too indignant to make any 
reply to this ; and Albert soon returned to 
the dining-room, where sat his guardian, 
moody and abstracted. 

If Hiram Dempster had been in the city, 
he would soon have found a way to drown 
the troublesome reflections which oppressed 
him ; but, bad as he was, he had too much 
regard for his daughter to pollute her home 
with the fumes of liquor. This was not the 
first time his ward had alluded to what he 
would gladly have ignored. He feared that 
suspicions were aroused which it would be 
_ difficult to allay. 

In fifteen months Albert would be of age, 
and everything depended upon his condition 
at that time. 

The next morning Aunt Dinah was early 
astir, doing what was necessary in her 
own cottage before going to that of Mr. 
Dempster. Here Mira met her in the 
kitchen. 

"Dear honey, chile ! ” cried the good wom- 
an, folding her arms about the slight figure 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


73 


of tlxis young girl. " Ole auntie take care 
you. I’ll see ’bout things.” 

Mira had borne up bravely ; but these ex- 
pressions of sympathy nearly overcame her 
fortitude. "Albert is worse, than ever,” she 
said. 

"’Pears like he is,” was the honest reply. 
" But he’ll line himself in de wrong place 
here. Can’t smoke his nasty ’bacco in my 
kitchen. Ugh ! ” and such an expression of 
disgust overspread the black face as to pro- 
voke a laugh from Mira. 

" Glad you can laugh, chile. Spect that’s 
the best way.” 

Edgar did not tell his mother of the en- 
counter with Albert, but Rufus had listened 
to a minute description of it. 

"He won’t give up so,” was the older 
brother’s conclusion. "Look out for him.” 

" This child can do that. He’ll have to 
get up before light if he makes a fool of me.” 

"Don’t get into a fuss with him,” said 
Rufus. "Keep cool, and mind your own 
business.” 


74 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


" No danger but what I shall do that ; and 
it will be well for him not to interfere. If he 
does, the worst is his own.” 

"I guess mother would think that some 
more promises are needed, if she should hear 
you talk in that way.” 

" Perhaps so ; but between you and me, 
Rufe, I’ve made all the promises of that 
kind I intend to. I’ll keep them and make 
no more. That young city chap had better 
mind his p’s and q’s. Why, I could pitch 
him into the middle of next week, if my 
temper was up.” 

" Better not get it up. It would only make 
trouble for us all, Miss Mira with the rest.” 

" If there’s any trouble, it won’t be of my 
making.” 

This did not satisfy Rufus, as his brother 
well knew. 

"I promise not to injure a hair of his 
head, unless I do it in self-defence,” said 
Edgar. "How does that suit you?” 

" So far so good ; ” and judging best to ask 
no more, Rufus turned to his book. "No 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


75 


lessons to learn to-night?” he asked, at 
length. 

" I don’t feel like studying,” was the reply. 
"To tell the truth, the world looks pretty 
dark.” 

" Dark to you, with your strong, straight 
limbs ! ” exclaimed the crippled brother. 
" What do you think of me ? ” 

" Think you’re a jolly good fellow, and 
I’m a fool to mind what Albert Wilson says. 
I’m going to study the rest of the even- 
ing.” 

The next day Mira avoided her cousin as 
much as possible ; and managed to keep 
Charley entirely out of his way. This an- 
noyed him, and had it not been for the 
memory of other days, when they had shared 
the same love and care, he would have 
sworn revenge. For his guardian he had 
neither respect nor affection; but for Mira 
he cherished as sincere a regard as he was 
capable of feeling. In consideration of her 
happiness Charley should go unpunished for 
the sins of his father. 


76 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


There was nothing, however, to deter him 
from having fun with the darkey. He had 
been thwarted once ; but he was able to out- 
wit the woolly head, and he would do it. 
As for Aunt Dinah, she was of no account, 
any way. So he said to himself, and so he 
thought ; yet others entertained a different 
opinion. 

Mr. Dempster, who wished to keep on 
good terms with the woman, was quite 
unable to comprehend her present mood. 
Respectful, attentive to all requests, and 
assiduous in serving, she received all com- 
pliments without a smile, and baffled all 
attempts at conversation. 

Toward evening of the day after his arri- 
val, he appeared at her kitchen-door and 
asked if he might enter. 

" Certain,” she said; and drew forward 
the best chair. 

"I have come to pay you some money. 
I suppose it would be acceptable.” 

"Certain,” she answered again, as her 
visitor took from his pocket-book a large 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


77 


roll of bills, and counted out the sum which 
had been agreed upon between them, as the 
price of her services. 

"I am afraid this is not enough,” he said, 
pushing the money toward her. "I am 
willing to pay you more.” 

" Spect this enough,” she replied, looking 
at it carefully. " Them children aint no 
trouble to me — ” Here she broke down 
entirely, and turned away to regain com- 
posure. "I want you to let my boy ’lone,” 
she said, at length. 

" Let your boy alone ! What do you 
mean?” asked Hiram Dempster, in a maze 
of surprise at her strange conduct. 

"I want you to let my boy ’lone,” she 
repeated, hurriedly, unable to say more. 
Soon, however, her tongue was loosed, and 
words flowed freely. 

At first, her companion was angry, and 
once commanded her to stop ; but she had 
a purpose to gain, and was not easily si- 
lenced. Her boy had promised. She wished 
now to save him from temptation. 


78 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


"I have no wish to injure Edgar,” said 
Mr. Dempster, changing his tactics. " He 
is smart and capable — ” 

" Spect I know that,” was the impatient 
interruption. " He’ll do well nuff if let 
’lone.” 

After some further conversation, Aunt 
Dinah received the assurance she desired. 
" I shall never say anything more to Edgar 
about working for me, unless he applies to 
me himself,” said her visitor. " In case he 
should apply I shall feel at liberty to do as I 
please.” 

" He’ll never ’ply. Trust me for that,” 
was the emphatic response. 

Saturday, Albert Wilson could think of 
nothing better for amusement than a fishing 
excursion with the darkey. Rufus Freeman 
owned a boat, which lay in the river not 
far from his home. This, Albert proposed 
taking; and, after some hesitation, Edgar 
agreed to accompany him. 

"I don’t want anything to do with the 
fellow,” he said to his brother. "But I 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


‘ 79 

should like some fish for breakfast ; and if 
the boat is going, I’d rather go with it.” 

Rufus fully agreed with this. Moreover, 
it was for the interest of all that peace should 
be maintained between the families. Aunt 
Dinah provided the lunch, and volunteered 
to pack it in the best possible manner. But 
Albert insisted upon doing this himself. 

Early in the afternoon he sauntered down 
to the river, followed by Edgar with basket, 
lines, and bait. The boat was unmoored, 
and, with strong, steady strokes, propelled 
up the stream, while Albert really admired 
the skill of his companion. Reaching a 
sheltered spot, where the water was deep 
and dark, they threw out their lines. For- 
tune favored them. The fish were waiting 
to be caught. 

" We might try our luck higher up,” said 
Edgar. "We generally have very fine sport 
there.” 

Again he bent to the oars, making the 
distance of half a mile, to where dense shade 
above and dark waters beneath made a 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


80 ’ 

favorite retreat for anglers and their prey. 
Here they remained until satisfied with their 
spoils ; then, drifting down for a short dis- 
tance, Edgar made the boat fast to a tree, 
and went on shore to look after some inter- 
ests of his own. This was his hunting- 
ground, and it was partly to make observa- 
tions that he had. given himself so long a pull 
at the oars. He would gladly have spent 
the whole afternoon here ; but repeated calls 
from Albert summoned him. As it was, he 
took time to explore several suspicious-look- 
ing holes, marking them so they could be 
easily recognized at his next visit. 

Returning to the boat he found lunch 
temptingly displayed ; and, nothing loth, 
addressed himself to testing the merits of 
cold tongue, buttered biscuits, and loaf cake. 

"Now, if I had half a pint of good water or 
a cup of mother’s coffee, I should be all 
right,” he said, after satisfying himself in the 
way of eating. 

"I can give you something better than 
either,” replied Albert, with a wicked smile 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


81 


upon his lips. "I brought a bottle of cider, 
and a glass to drink it in.” 

"Nice-looking cider,” said Edgar, as the 
bottle was uncorked. 

"Nice-tasting cider,” remarked his com- 
panion, after draining a glass. "Try it for 
yourself,” he added, offering the refilled 
glass. 

"Not any for me, thank you,” was the 
polite reply. 

" You shall drink it,” exclaimed Albert, 
with sudden vehemence. " You refused a 
cigar the other evening. You shan’t be such 
a fool as to refuse this cider.” 

"I have refused it.” 

"No matter. You’ll drink it for all that.” 

" No, I won’t,” answered Edgar, and there 
was no mistaking the expression of his 
face. 

"Come, take it,” said Albert, in a differ- 
ent tone. "There’s no harm in drinking 
cider.” 

"You are sure that’s cider?” remarked 
Edgar, unfastening the boat. 

6 


82 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" Of course it is. What else should it be ? 
Do you doubt my word, darkey?” 

The " darkey ” turned and laid a hand 
heavily upon the shoulder of the speaker. 
" Say that again, and I’ll pitch you into the 
middle of the stream, to sink or swim, as it 
happens.” 

"Can’t you take a joke?” asked Albert, 
his face livid with rage and fear, while his 
voice trembled. 

"I can take a joke,” was the gruff reply, 
"but I wovUt take an insult.” 

" Well, take a glass of cider, and let us be 
friends. No use in quarrelling here.” 

"Keep your cider with your insults. I’m 
going home ; ” and, suiting the action to the 
word, the boat shot down the stream like an 
arrow. 

Albert Wilson had no choice but to sub- 
mit, bearing his discomfiture as best he 
might. Replacing bottle and glass in the 
basket, he lighted a cigar. 

"No use to offer one to you, I suppose,” 
he said to his companion. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


83 


"Not the least in the world, and never 
will be.” 

Both had learned lessons that afternoon 
they would not soon forget ; yet it is very 
possible, that, but for Aunt Dinah’s pledge, 
Edgar Freeman might have tasted the spark- 
ling champagne, and tasting it might have 
proved his ruin. 


IV. 


God cares for all ; and mindful still, 

Through light and shade, through good and ill, 

To do his own, his high behest, 

He smites or smiles, as seemeth best. 

Mr. Dempster had spent nearly a week 
with his children, and was to leave the next 
morning. 

There had been much to occupy his time 
in providing for present wants ; and yet many 
serious reflections had intruded upon him. 
He thought of his own past life, of those he 
had laid down in the silent grave, and of the 
children whom God had given him. Around 
these last his thoughts lingered longest. 

He desired for them happiness ; and, dear- 
ly as he loved Charley, he would rather that 
he lay beside his mother than live to be such 
as Albert. His heart smote him as he made 
this acknowledgment; for Albert was what 
he allowed him to be. 


84 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


85 


After the conversation with Aunt Dinah, 
he was, for a time, half inclined to dispose 
of his business ; but the old love of gain had 
not lost its power ; and, moreover, he was 
sure all misgivings would vanish when once 
more surrounded with his city associates. 
So he made no rash resolves, but looked for- 
ward impatiently. 

Another reason made him anxious to re- 
turn. Albert’s conduct became, every day, 
worse, and it was evident that he was fast 
throwing off all restraint. 

Mira had always before tried to reason 
with him in regard to his course, but during 
this visit she found no opportunity. He was 
never in a mood to listen with patience, much 
less with profit. 

" Come, cousin, suppose we have a ride,” 
he said to her, the day before he left. "You 
ought not to stay here in the house mop- 
ing all these beautiful days. Will you go 
with me?” he asked, finding she made no 
reply. 

" I shall be too busy,” she answered, with 


86 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE, 


some hesitation, not quite willing to give the 
true reason. 

- " Too busy,” repeated Albert, with a 
sneer. "If you don’t wish to go with me 
you can say so. Nobody will hang you for 
speaking the truth.” 

"I don’t wish to go with you, Cousin Al- 
bert,” said Mira, looking up to him through 
tear-dimmed eyes. 

A flush of anger overspread his face, and 
he was leaving the room without another 
word, when she laid one hand upon his arm, 
and begged him to remain. 

"Why should I remain?” he asked, fierce- 
ly. "I know you hate the sight of me ; but 
I am what your father has made me. I tell 
you, Mira Dempster, there will come a day 
of reckoning for us all. I don’t blame you,” 
he added, in a softened tone ; "lam not fit to 
come into your presence ; but I am better 
than your father.” 

" O Albert ! that may be,” cried Mira. 
" My heart is almost broken when I think of 
the wrong there is and has been in our 


aunt dinah’s fledge. 


87 


family. Mother hoped I would try to save 
you. She loved you, Albert. Oh, for her 
sake, he persuaded to do differently.” 

"I wish I could, Mira, I hate and despise 
myself more than you can. But I am hound 
for a goal, and shall reach it soon.” 

" What goal ? ” asked his cousin, inno- 
cently. 

" I had better not tell you. It might have 
an unpleasant effect upon your nerves,” he 
answered, recklessly. " I am bound now for a 
ride, with you, or without you ; which shall it 
be?” 

" Without me. I can do you no good.” 

"Spect not, as Aunt Dinah says. So- 
good-by.” 

From this conversation Albert Wilson 
went to his chamber, and, throwing himself 
upon the bed, groaned in very agony of 
spirit. Did he not despise himself? Ask 
any one who feels that the good in his na- 
ture has been swallowed up of evil. Ask 
any one of the almost innumerable host 
who have sold their birthright for a mess 


88 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


of pottage, which might have been con- 
cocted in the witches’ own caldron, so vile 
is it. 

He knew he had committed this crowning 
act of all folly, and loathed himself for the 
deed. But so strong is habit, that another 
hour found him driving at a furious pace, 
with cigar-case and liquor-flask in his 
pocket. 

" Going off on a frolic, all by myself,” he 
had said to Aunt Dinah, as he passed 
through the gate. 

" Take care, chile. I knows ’bout your 
frolics,” was the reply. " ’Pears like some- 
thin’ll happen,” she added when he was quite 
out of hearing. 

Edgar came in soon after, and said Al- 
bert Wilson had gone off with the worst 
horse in the village stable. " Ten chances 
to one but he’ll break his neck ; and no great 
loss either,” was the comment. 

" Stop that, chile,” exclaimed Aunt Dinah, 
" The good Lord made him.” 

"And the devil has trained him,” added 


aunt dinaii’s pledge. 


89 


Edgar, in too low a tone for his mother to 
hear. 

This hoy was getting his eyes open, and 
was preparing to believe anything which 
should be reported against Hiram Dempster 
or his ward. 

" I shall be glad when they are off the 
place,” he said to his brother. "I shan’t 
feel right while they are here.” 

" Don’t trouble yourself about them,” was 
the reply. " I am very sorry for Albert, 
and wish I could do him good ; but he is 
beyond me.” 

" Beyond everybody decent,” . responded 
Edgar. "For my part I’d rather have a 
black skin than a black heart.” 

"I pray for him,” said Rufus, a moment 
after. " God is able to change his heart.” 

"I suppose that is all true, old fellow; 
but I shouldn’t waste much time or breath 
in praying for such as he.” 

" I wonder if you pray for yourself.” 

This effectually silenced Edgar, and, di- 
rectly after, the attention of these brothers 


90 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


was directed to a man who drove hurriedly 
to the cottage of Mr. Dempster. 

"Your nephew is badly injured,” he said 
as soon as the master of the house ap- 
peared. 

"Injured!” repeated Mr. Dempster, in a 
surprised tone. 

"Yes, his horse ran away, and he was 
thrown from the buggy. Too much liquor 
aboard, I guess. Any way, he’s in a bad 
condition, and needs to be taken care of. I 
can carry you to him,” added the messenger ; 
and they were soon on their way to the 
house, where Albert lay in nearly a sense- 
less state. 

" He will need a physician,” remarked Mr. 
Dempster. 

"I called on Dr. Waring, as I came 
along,” was the reply. " He will be there as 
soon as we are.” 

A sad sight presented itself when they 
reached their destination. Blood was ooz- 
ing from several cuts about the head and 
face of Albert Wilson. His clothes . were 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


91 


covered with mud; and his whole appear- 
ance was repulsive in the extreme. 

Dr. Waring had just arrived, and was 
making as thorough an examination as cir- 
cumstances would permit. One leg was 
broken, and the whole body bruised. 

" He will need long and careful nursing,” 
said the physician, addressing Mr. Demp- 
ster. " I suppose you will wish to have him 
carried to your house, and it must be done 
at once.” 

Of course he must be carried to the cot- 
tage ; and orders were given to that effect. 
The best arrangements possible were made, 
under Dr. Waring’s directions, while a mes- 
senger was sent forward that everything 

might be in readiness. 

© 

Aunt Dinah seemed . to have expected 
something of the kind ; and, nothing discon- 
certed, applied herself to the fask before 
her. 

"Spect there’ll be a hard pull, honey. 
But de good Lord knows,” she said. " Trust 
old auntie.” 


92 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


For these and like comforting remarks she 
found time ; -but they in no way interfered 
with her preparations for receiving the in- 
jured boy. With the assistance of Rufus 
and Edgar, the parlor was soon transformed 
into a most comfortable and inviting room 
for an invalid. 

Slowly, very slowly, the litter was carried, 
new relays of men taking up the burden 
when others were fatigued. Silently they 
entered the house with him, who had, so 
short a time before, gone forth in health and 
strength. 

Mira and the children went to Aunt 
Dinah’s cottage, so they might neither see 
nor hear what transpired. More than an 
hour had elapsed, when Edgar came to say 
that the fracture was reduced, wounds all 
dressed, and Dr. Waring about to take his 
leave. 

"Is your mother there?” asked Mira. 

" Yes ; and going to sit up to-night.” 

"Will Albert get well?” was the next 
question. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


93 


" I don’t know about that,” replied Edgar. 
" I heard the doctor say his habits were 
against him. His head and face are terribly 
cut up.” 

Albert Wilson had been thrown upon a 
heap of stones ; hence the numerous cuts 
which disfigured the lower part of his face, 
and now, dressed with straps of plaster, gave 
him so hideous an appearance. 

" It will be a hard case to pull him through,” 
said Dr. Waring to Aunt Dinah. " If it 
was your boy, he’d come out good as new ; 
but this fellow has lived too fast. He’ll 
learn a lesson now. Not a drop of stimulant 
will he get while under my care.” 

The next day Mr. Dempster walked about 
the house and grounds the impersonation of 
unrest. It was impossible for him to remain 
quiet. This awkward accident, as he char- 
acterized it in his own mind, might be 
attended with troublesome results. As yet, 
no one could be certain of the issue. 

But one thing was sure. Albert Wilson 
would never go out of that house the same 


94 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


that he had been. Weeks, and it might be 
months, of suffering and enforced abstinence 
would produce a positive effect upon him. 
If he should die ! Even then, some one 
would demand his property ; so, turn which 
way he would, there was neither rest nor 
comfort for this wicked man. His whole 
life had been one of evil ; and his whole 
course had involved others in ruin. 

He longed to get away, and in active exer- 
tion forget the accusing thoughts which 
haunted him ; but a decent regard for public 
opinion compelled him to remain where he 
was, until there should be some change in 
the condition of his ward. 

Aunt Dinah’s hands and heart were full ; 
but she wished for no assistance more than 
her boys could give. Edgar remained with 
Albert while she was engaged in house- 
hold duties ; and she managed these so that 
he could still attend school. 

Mr. Dempster, having neither the tact nor 
disposition necessary to a good nurse, rarely 
proffered his services. The fourth day after 


aunt Dinah’s pledge. 


95 


the sad accident he received a letter sum- 
moning him to the city. There was no 
reason why he should not go ; at least Aunt 
Dinah said so ; and he was willing to abide 
by her decision. 

It must be confessed that his absence was 
a great relief to those he left behind. Dinah 
Freeman was tired of that " walkin’ ghost,” 
and Mira constantly feared that her father 
would do something to weaken her influence: 
over Charley. Albert was in a most critical 
condition. He raved in delirium ; sometimes 
uttering horrid oaths, and sometimes begging - 
his mother to lay her hand upon his head. 

Now commanding, now soothing, his un- 
tiring nurse held her post through long, long 
hours. " Life or death with him now,” said 
the doctor, and she redoubled her care, bath- 
ing the burning brow, and moistening the 
parched lips. 

At length, the fever was spent; and then 
followed weakness and prostration, which 
seemed the harbingers of death. But a vig- 
orous constitution, which dissipation had not 


96 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


wholly ruined, carried the sufferer safely 
through. 

It was a bright day for all, when Dr. 
Waring made this announcement, and ex- 
pressed the belief that his patient would in a 
few weeks be able to move about the house. 

"You must have patience,” he said to 
Albert. " You are doing well now, thanks 
to Aunt Dinah ; and if you obey orders you 
will soon be on your feet again.” 

" What is the matter with my head ? ” asked 
the young man, for the first time seeming to 
realize that something was wrong. 

"It’s been shaved, chile,” was the reply 
of his nurse. 

"We thought you could do without much 
hair, while lying here,” added the doctor. 

This satisfied him for the time, or rather, 
what may be nearer the truth, he was too 
weak to make further inquiries. 

He had but confused ideas of the accident 
which had placed him in this helpless condi- 
tion. He knew the horse had grown restive, 
and excited his temper. After this was a 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


97 


dull sense of pain and confinement. His 
head, for which he had vainly endeavored to 
find a comfortable position, seemed of twice 
its usual size, while a raging fever tormented 
him. Gradually he learned the whole 
truth. 

" I had a jolly frolic,” he said to Aunt 
Dinah, in a mocking tone. " What made 
you try to patch me up ? I am of no use in 
the world.” 

" Spect de good Lord knows,” was the 
serious reply. " He’ll call you to ’count, 
some time. ’Pears like you’ve had warnin’.” 

”1 should think I had. Pretty serious 
one too ; and if there was anything good 
left in me I should heed it.” 

His companion looked at him earnestly, to 
see if this was said in derision. " You mean 
that, chile ? ” she asked. 

"Yes, I do mean it; but I don’t suppose 
it would be possible to find anything good 
about me.” 

" Spect de Lord knows ’bout that. If 
you’d ask him, he’d make you all good.” 

7 


98 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


"I ask him!” repeated Albert. "Why, 
Aunt Dinah, you forget that you are talking 
to a reprobate.” 

"I don’t know nothin’ what that means, 
but spect it’s somethin’ bad. I know I’se 
talkin’ to a sinner, just such as de good 
Saviour died for.” 

"Mother used to talk to me about the 
Saviour,” said the invalid, musingly. "So 
did Aunt Maria, till I refused to hear 
her.” 

"’Twould been ' better, chile, to minded 
’em. ’Pears like you might.” 

" I might ; but I wouldn’t. The fault was 
my own, and I must take the consequences. 
I shall get to be a baby, if I lie here much 
longer,” he added, after a short silence, dur- 
ing which Aunt Dinah raised her heart in 
prayer that this wayward boy might be re- 
claimed. 

The flush upon his face warned her that he 
had already said too much, and she forbade 
further conversation. An unusual tender- 
ness in her voice betrayed the emotion she 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


99 


sought to conceal, and Albert looked up, 
wondering if any foolish word of his had 
given her pain. 

"Don’t mind what I say,” he half- whis- 
pered. "I’m not worth a single tear ; but I 
thank you for your kindness.” 

• Poor Aunt Dinah bent over him at this, 
replying, in a scarcely audible tone, "’Pears 
like your mother sees you now, chile.” 

" My mother ! ” he murmured, tears steal- 
ing down his cheeks. 

" There, chile, don’t talk no more,” now 
said his nurse, in the same tone she would 
have used in soothing an infant. " We’ll see 
’bout things when you get well. Jes’ sleep 
now ; ” and she put to his lips a draught which 
would induce slumber. 

While he slept, Aunt Dinah stole out to 
report to Mira the strange words she had 
heard. " Keep prayin’, honey,” she said. 
" Spect de good Lord hears ; and ’pears like 
he’ll do. Been dark good while, honey ; but 
when darkness all roun’, den look out for de 
mornin’.” 


100 


aunt dtnah’s pledge. 


”0 Aunt Dinah, do you believe Albert 
■will give up his bad habits ? ” 

"Yes, honey, I believe it,” answered the 
good woman, decidedly. "I believe it,” 
she repeated, clasping her hands, and look- 
ing reverently upward. 

" I hope he will ; but it seems almost too 
much to believe,” responded Mira, not yet 
having attained to the faith of her compan- 
ion. " If he goes back into father’s store — ” 

"Spect he won’t do that,” interrupted 
Aunt Dinah. "Better jes keep him sick.” 

" But that would be wrong. You wouldn’t 
do that.” 

"Dunno, chile. Can’t have him back in 
that bad place.” 

The entrance of Edgar interrupted this 
conversation. He had come to take his 
mother’s place in the sick-room; but she 
was not disposed to trust his attendance at 
that time. Mira offered him a chair, and, 
nothing loth, he sat down. He was still in 
school, progressing rapidly with his studies, 
and enthusiastic in his praises of Miss Mar- 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


101 


vin. In his estimation she knew all that 
was necessary to he known ; and, if he could 
hut reach her standard, he would be the 
happiest fellow alive, black or white. 

" There’s a talk about Miss Marvin staying 
through the winter,” said Edgar. "If she 
does, I shall go to school if there’s money 
enough to keep soul and body together in 
the old cottage.” 

" There will be no lack of money,” replied 
Mira, with animation. " I can assure you of 
that. Your mother will be well paid for her 
services this autumn, so far as money goes ; 
but, even then, we shall be in her debt. I 
hope you realize what a blessing it is to have 
such a mother.” 

" I know she is a good mother,” was the 
reply. " I used to think she held the reins 
rather tight, and pulled up too often*; but I 
see now that she was right. I might have 
got under too much headway and gone 
straight to perdition.” 

"Your mother hopes Albert will be saved,” 
remarked Mira, her thoughts reverting to 


102 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


him who had been the object of so much 
solicitation. 

Edgar looked at her wonderingly, know- 
ing that she could not have reference to the 
recovery of health. She was aware of his 
surprise at being thus addressed ; but she 
had done it with a purpose. Having often 
feared that her cousin would influence Edgar 
Freeman to evil, she. had more than once 
resolved to throw the weight of her own 
personal influence against him. Now that 
it appeared probable they would be much 
together during the next few weeks or 
months, this seemed an imperative duty. 
Ii^ reply to the inquiring look of her com- 
panion, she said, " I mean that your mother 
hopes he will reform his habits, and become 
a good man. We all know that he has been 
very different from what he should be.” 

"He likes what he calls a jolly time,” re- 
sponded Edgar. 

" Jolly is a favorite word with him ; but I 
can see nothing jolly in smoking and drink- 
ing. Perhaps you see with different eyes 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


103 


from mine. I believe men and women think 
differently about such things. They always 
have in our family,” she added, with a sigh. 

Her companion was considering whether 
it was proper for him to express his opinion 
frankly upon this subject, when she asked a 
direct question. 

"Has Albert ever offered you cigars or 
wine ? ” 

"Yes, Miss Mira; but he never will offer 
them to me again.” 

" I wish you would tell me about it,” she 
said. "I believe it would kill me, if evil 
should come to you through connection with 
our family. I have thought of it so much 
that I couldn’t help speaking.” \ 

" There isn’t any danger. Mother looked 
out for that,” he replied, in a choking voice ; 
moved that one like Mira Dempster should 
manifest so much interest in his welfare. 

" Seems to me your mother looks out 
for everything. But how did she manage 
this?” 

"We all signed the pledge,” answered 


104 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


Edgar, smiling at his companion’s puzzled 
look. 

" What pledge ? ” she asked. 

"Aunt Dinah’s pledge ; strong and square. 
Not a loophole to dodge out, and no end to 
it either. Kufus wrote it, but mother gave 
the orders.” 

" I wish I could see it,” exclaimed Mira. 

" I haven’t seen it since the night we 
signed. It’s among mother’s treasures some- 
where.” 

"I don’t think I quite understand it yet,” 
said Mira. "I wish you would tell me what 
made her think of having a pledge.” 

Thus urged, Edgar gave a short descrip- 
tion of the evening’s events, when his mother, 
with a decision at once grand and conclu- 
sive, placed the obligations of a solemn 
pledge between him and ruin. 

"I shall never have any more anxiety 
about }mu,” said the listener, as, in her 
happiness, she extended a small white hand 
to grasp one black and labor-hardened. 
Presently, Aunt Dinah appeared and told 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


105 


her son -he could go about his lessons. 
" That boy fast ’sleep and don’t need no- 
body,” she said. 

So home went Edgar; but not to study. 
He was in no mood for that. How strong 
he felt ! How sure that he should never 
bring disgrace upon himself! 

At length he addressed his brother. 
"Come, old fellow, why don’t you say 
something? Forgot everything but that 
book? ’Pears like you might speak to me, 
as mother says.” 

" Edgar ! ” exclaimed Rufus, in a tone of 
reproach. 

"Well, I meant no harm. Mother’s just 
as good as anybody ; and I think enough of 
her. You needn’t look like that.” 

The older brother was about to resume his 
reading, when the children came in. 

" We wanted to come,” said Charley, "and 
Sister Mi said we might, if we wouldn’t 
be — ” 

" Troublesome,” added Oily, coming to his 
assistance. 


106 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" Come here, and let’s see how troublesome 
you are,” responded Edgar. 

The child sprang into his extended arms, 
and then there followed a frolic, in which 
both joined with hearty good nature, while 
Oily amused herself with an illustrated paper. 

" Sister Mi went into the parlor,” she whis- 
pered to Rufus, after having exhausted the 
pictures. "Aunt Dinah said Cousin Albert 
wanted to see her.” 

Mira’s visits to Albert during his sickness 
had been short and infrequent. This was the 
first time he had asked to see her ; and it was 
with some trepidation that she walked to the 
bed on which he lay. 

"Will you shake hands with me?” he 
asked. 

" Certainly,” she replied ; " and I am very 
glad to see you better.” 

"Are you really glad?” he asked, retain- 
ing her hand. " I don’t see how you can 
be.” 

"I am really very glad,” she answered, 
making an effort to speak cheerfully, as 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


107 


Aunt Dinah had desired. "We have been 
very anxious about you.” 

" I didn’t deserve it,” was the reply. 
" Perhaps I shouldn’t have been hurt if you 
had gone with me that afternoon ; but I’m 
glad you refused to go.” 

"Why?” she asked. 

" Because you are too good to be with such 
as I. I’ve thought about it a good deal with- 
in a few days ; thinking, when I seemed to 
be sleeping.” 

" You are getting too tired,” said Mira, as 
he paused, evidently much fatigued. "Don’t 
talk any more.” 

" It will tire me more not to talk,” he re- 
plied, quickly. " If I live, I should like to 
do differently from what I have done ; but per- 
haps there is no use in trying.” 

" Oh, yes, there is ! ” exclaimed his cousin. 
"If you would only try, we should all be so 
happy;” and, forgetting that he ought not 
to be excited, she added, "Do promise to 
try.” 

" I will promise one thing, Mira. I will 


108 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


never do anything to injure Charley. If he 
learns to smoke and drink, it shall not be-» 
through my influence. I’ve wanted to tell 
you, so you needn’t feel anxious about that 
any longer.” 

"Oh, thank you for the promise. I know 
you will keep it. I couldn’t help feeling 
anxious,” she added. "You know mother 
left him in my charge ; and it would be ter- 
rible if he should go wrong.” 

" More terrible than you know,” responded 
Albert. " Death is better than ruin.” 

Mira knew this conversation ought not to 
be carried further, and begged her cousin to 
defer whatever he -might wish to say until 
he should be stronger. " Aunt Dinah said 
you must not talk. She will never let me 
come again if she finds you are worse after 
this visit.” 

" Aunt Dinah is a wonderful good nurse, 
but I suppose she don’t know everything,” 
he said. 

"Spected jes how ’twould be,” exclaimed 
this wonderful good nurse, opening the door 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


109 


softly. " Knew you’d both talk ; and I can’t 
have it no more. Come, honey, this boy 
mus’ sleep.” 

" I am sorry,” answered Mira, in a depre- 
cating tone. "I told Albert he ought not to 
talk.” 

"No harm done,” whispered the invalid. 
"I have relieved one conscience, and glad- 
dened one heart; so there is something 
gained. ” 

"Well, chile, I’m glad of that; but don’t 
you speak ’nother word now. Honey, you 
go right out.” 

"Yes,” replied Mira. "Good-night, 
Cousin Albert. I will come to see you 
again in the morning, if you would like to 
have me.” 

"I shall like to see you; but give me a 
good-night kiss now, just as you used to 
when we were children.” 

She bent over him, their lips met, and she 
then left the room, happier than she had been 
for many long months. 

It was yet early in the evening ; but dark- 


110 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


ness reigned without, while within the fire- 
light cast shadows on the wall. The chil- 
dren not having returned, Mira Dempster sat 
down alone, to reflect upon the conditions of 
her life. A mother dead ; a father engaged 
in the business which her very soul loathed ; 
a cousin, whom she had loved as a brother, 
reckless and dissipated; two others, as yet 
too young to doubt or fear, entrusted to her 
guidance, — was not the thought of all this 
enough to sadden one older and braver than 
,she? 

Yet hers was not so sad a lot as that 
of many cursed by the self-same demon. 
Poverty had not laid its grasp upon her. 
She raised her hands imploringly to 
Heaven, and prayed that this cup, this bitter 
cup of agony, might be taken from her lips. 
God had the power to do this. With him 
all things are possible ; and she allowed her- 
self to hope that brighter days were in store 
for her and hers. 

" Albert must have changed, or he would 
never talk as he had that evening.” She 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


Ill 


thought of it for a long time, and repeated 
this to herself, again and again, until her 
face grew radiant with a new hope. 

"You look happy, chile,” said Aunt Di- 
nah, as she entered the room half an hour 
after. 

" I am very happy,” was the reply. "I do 
believe better days are coming for us ; ” and 
then she repeated some things which Albert 
had said to her. 

It may seem strange that this young and 
beautiful girl should thus give her entire con- 
fidence to an uneducated black woman. But 
it is true, as those who have had occasion to 
test friendship well know, that money and 
intellectual development have less to do with 
the heart than many suppose. 

Aunt Dinah’s whole affections were lavished 
upon her two- boys and this family of Hiram 
Dempster. She would as soon have be- 
trayed her own interests as theirs. 

" Keep prayin’, honey,” was the reiterated 
advice. " ’Pears like we’ll have the blessin’ 
yet. It’s cornin’.” 


112 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


" I do believe it,” responded Mira, " and I 
am so thankful.” 

" Well, chile, so’s your ole auntie. Spect 
we’ll live to see de mornin’.” 

" I must see to those children,” said the 
sister, mindful of her duties ; " they are never 
ready to leave your kitchen.” 

" Hope not, chile. ’Pears like they mos’ 
b’long to me. But I’ll send ’em ’long ; ” and 
out into the darkness went Aunt Dinah, her 
heart full of praise and thanksgiving. 

" We have stayed too long,” exclaimed Oily, 
when she heard a familiar step upon the grav- 
el walk. "Come, Charley, we must go,” she 
added, turning to her brother. 

" And I will carry you both,” said Edgar. 

"I don’t think you can, I am so tall,” 
replied Oily, drawing herself up to her full 
height just as the door opened. 

Nevertheless, he could and did, depositing 
the two safely at their sister’s side. Then a 
lamp was lighted, the Bible read, and prayers 
repeated. 

What a contrast was this to the home 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


113 


Hiram Dempster would himself have made 
for these children, who prayed, while he 
cursed ! 

There must have been some subtle connec- 
tion between their minds and his that even- 
ing. Their faces, eloquent with dumb re- 
proach, looked up to him from the cards 
he held in his hand. He grasped the wine- 
cup, but the same sweet faces were mirrored 
in its depths. 

Yet he continued to curse, while they 
prayed. 


8 


Y. 


The blow foil, swift and sure, 

With strong convulsive shock, 

When gushed the waters, pure, 

From out the flinty rock. 

Miss Martin had taken tea with Mira 
Dempster, and the two young ladies found 
the time pass delightfully. The children 
were in a state of rather uproarious mirth 
over a new game, and Aunt Dinah’s face was 
radiant with happiness. 

The teacher had praised her boy and her 
cooking. Edgar was a fine scholar, and her 
muffins were inimitable. Moreover, she 
had received a call, in her own kitchen ; 
which, swept and garnished for the occasion, 
was sufficiently attractive to be the object of 
some complimentary remarks. 

Miss Marvin could see through a black 
skin; indeed, it seemed in no way to ob- 
struct her vision ; and having a fancy for 

lH 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


115 


studying character, she lost no opportunity 
to improve her acquaintance with Aunt 
Dinah. This good woman’s friendship was 
easily won ; so that Edgar had a new in- 
centive to diligence in his mother’s oft- 
reiterated command to "do jes right, and 
not trouble nobody.” 

As usual, he went to the post-office in the 
evening, returning with letters for Mira and 
Albert. These remained unopened until 
the guest had taken her leave, and the chil- 
dren were in bed. Even then Mira was in 
no haste to decipher the somewhat obscure 
writing of her father. She was expecting to 
see him soon, and this letter would probably 
give the date of his coming. As for that 
directed to Albert, she could only guess at 
its contents. 

" Well, honey, you’ve ’joyed yourself this 
time, I know,” said Aunt Dinah, coming into 
the room with a tray of dishes. 

" I have enjoyed the afternoon very much,” 
replied Mira; "but here is a letter from 
father,” she added, in a tone which showed 


116 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


how little welcome was the missive. " I have 
hardly courage to open it.” 

. " Spect it can’t hurt you, chile,” responded 
Aunt Dinah. "’Pears like I’d read it right 
off and see.” 

Mira acted upon this advice, and found 
that her father might be expected the next 
evening. "I wish he wouldn’t come,” she 
murmured. "I wish he wouldn’t come.” 

" What is it, honey? ” asked Aunt Dinah, 
opening the door from the kitchen. " Thought 
you called.” 

" I didn’t call. But come in. I have no 
one else to tell, and we must do something.” 

"What, chile? Spect ole auntie ready for 
most anything.” 

"Father is coming to-morrow.” 

"Well,” replied the woman, endeavoring 
to speak in an indifferent tone, — "well.” 

" I am afraid it will be anything but well 
for Albert. I am almost sure father will 
bring him wine, and then there will be an 
end to all hope.” 

At this moment Albert’s bell was heard, 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


117 


and Aunt Dinah obeyed the call. " Some- 
thing strange has happened to me,” he said, 
as soon as she opened the door. 

" What, chile ? ” she asked. 

"I have seen my mother.” 

" Seen your mother ! ” exclaimed Aunt 
Dinah, throwing np her hands. 

" I suppose I dreamed,” rejoined Albert. 
"But it seemed as though mother sat here 
beside me. I saw her, and felt her hand 
upon my forehead. It was so soft and cool, 
it took away all the pain. I wish it wasn’t 
a dream. I want my mother, my own dear 
mother ! Aunt Dinah, do you suppose 
mother knows anything about me, now she 
is in heaven ? ” 

" ’Pears like she does,” was the reply. 
"Spect she couldn’t forget you. You was 
her baby.” 

" I wish I had died then. I might be in 
heaven with her now. My own dear 
mother ! ” he sobbed again. 

"Wouldn’t you like to see your cousin, 
chile? ” asked Aunt Dinah, rather distrusting 


118 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


her own ability to say what was proper. 
" She ’members all ’bout your mother.” 

" I wish she would come,” he answered, 
quickly. " Ask her, please, and tell her — ” 
But the door closed before he had completed 
this sentence. 

No sooner was he left, than his evil genius 
whispered, "You are a fool! You will be 
sorry for this to-morrow.” He felt the pres- 
sure of his mother’s hand, and, for once, the 
good in him conquered. 

"Aunt Dinah says you want me,” said 
Mira, shortly after. 

" I do want you,” was the reply. " Please 
put your hand on my forehead, just as I 
dreamed that mother did.” 

The small, delicate hand was laid upon his 
aching brow, while he told her of his dream. 

"Do you suppose mother could come 
here ? ” he asked. 

" I don’t know,” she replied ; " but I 

sometimes feel that my mother is near me. 
When I am in great trouble she seems to 
comfort me.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


119 


" Poor Mira ! you have had so much 
trouble,” said Albert, in a pitying tone. 
"Enough, without any addition from me. 
But I have added a great deal. I am sorry 
for it now.” 

" That repays for all,” she answered, wish- 
ing in some way to assure and comfort 
him.. 

"No,” he replied, sadly. "Sorrow can 
never repay for any wrong; but if I could 
do better.” 

" You could ; and then we should all be 
so happy. O Cousin Albert, I am so bur- 
dened with sorrow ! Do help me ! ” ex- 
claimed Mira. "Help me, and God will 
bless you.” 

" What can such as I do ? ” was the ques- 
tion, asked in reply. " If I could help you, 
I would.” 

" Give up drinking,” she at length found 
voice to say, trembling lest she might rouse 
the old spirit of reckless independence. 

" I would, if it were not for your father. 
At any rate, I would try.” 


120 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" Try now,” pleaded his cousin. " Oh, 
promise that you will try.” 

" My promise would be worth nothing 
when I am once more in the way of temp- 
tation.” 

"Then take a solemn oath,” continued 
Mira. " You certainly wouldn’t break that.” 

"I don’t know. This thirst for strong 
drink is a very demon ; and when it has the 
mastery, my oath would be no more than an 
idle word.” 

" Then I know of but one way to bind 
you safely,” said his cousin, in a tone which 
was intended to be playful. 

"Do you know of one f” he asked, ea- 
gerly. 

" I think I do.” 

" What is it?” 

" You must sign Aunt Dinah’s pledge.” 

"Aunt Dinah’s pledge?” he repeated. 
" Tell me about it.” 

She looked at him for a moment. His 
face alternately flushed and paled with emo- 
tion, while he was fast reaching that state 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


121 


of excitement which his physician would 
have pronounced most injurious. 

But there were other considerations, which 
outweighed all thought of present health, or 
comfort. He was in a mood to he influenced 
for good. Now, if ever, must the decisive 
step be taken. To-morrow another might 
stand between them ; and Mira Dempster 
resolved to test her power, and bide the 
consequences. 

She told him what she knew of Aunt 
Dinah’s pledge, and the circumstances under 
which it was written. 

He listened eagerly, understanding now 
wherein lay Edgar’s strength to resist temp- 
tation. 

" Aunt Dinah was wise,” he said. "Did 
you know your father wanted Edgar in the 
store ? ” 

"No,” answered Mira, with a shudder. 
"He never shall go there, if I can help 
it.” # * 

" I don’t think there is any danger,” re- 
sponded her cousin. "Your father has 


122 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


given up all idea of it. But the boy would 
have been a wonderful hand there. I wish 
I could see that pledge,” he added, after a 
short silence. "Please ask Aunt Dinah to 
let me see it.” 

You can imagine Aunt Dinah’s surprise, 
when told of Albert’s . wish. "Pledge, 
chile !” she exclaimed, her eyes dilating with 
wonder ; " what pledge you mean ? ” 

This question rather startled Mira, who 
was not quite sure that even present circum- 
stances would reconcile Aunt Dinah to hav- 
ing her family secrets betrayed. 

" Didn’t you and your boys sign a 
pledge?” asked the young girl, coming close 
to her companion. 

"Who tole you, chile?” 

"Edgar told me, auntie. Don’t blame 
him,” added Mira, anxious to dispel the 
gathering frown. " I was afraid father or 
Albert would influence him to do wrong ; so 
I talked with him, and he told me about the 
pledge.” 

" Bless you, honey ! ” cried Aunt Dinah. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


123 


" ’Pears like you think ’bout everybody. I 
nius’ save my own childern, you know.” 

"I am so glad you thought of that way,” 
was the reply to these somewhat confused 
remarks of the mother. "Will you let 
Albert see the pledge? Perhaps he will 
sign it.” 

"Think he would, honey? ” 

"It is possible. I hope he will. You 
know father is coming to-morrow. It may 
be too late to do anything then.” 

" I’ll bring dat pledge in ’bout a minute,” 
responded Aunt Dinah, rushing from the 
room. 

"Will she let me see it?” asked Albert 
Wilson, directly after, when his cousin again 
stood beside him. 

" She has gone for it,” was the reply ; and 
"in ’bout a minute” the good woman ap- 
peared. 

" Here ’tis, honey,” she said, extending a 
small roll of paper, carefully tied with a bit 
of scarlet ribbon. 

" Please sit down, auntie, and tell us how 


124 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


you happened to have such a paper as that,” 
said Albert. "Please tell us,” he added, 
coaxingly, as she sat looking at him in si- 
lence. " There must be some reason for it.” 

" Spect there is, chile ; but you aint fit to 
hear nothin’ ’bout it to-night. Ought to be 
sleep ’fore now.” 

As nurse, she felt constrained, to say this ; 
while she had other objections to giving 
Albert Wilson a history of her pledge. Yet 
she allowed herself to be persuaded, and, 
passing lightly as possible over all which 
might seem like censure of others, explained 
her motives. 

" I understand it all now,” responded the 
invalid, when she had ceased speaking. 
" You were afraid of me ; and you had rea- 
son. I did my best, or my worst, whichever 
you may call it, to make Edgar smoke and 
drink ; told him a lie too ; but he was too 
sharp for me. Read the pledge, Cousin 
Mira.” 

She complied. "No swearing, smoking, 
or drinking,” he said, by way of comment, 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


125 


and then relapsed into silence. " That’s a 
great deal to promise. I should forget, and 
swear fifty times a day, I am so used to it. 
Perhaps I could manage the rest, but that 
would be impossible.” Thus he murmured 
at intervals, talking to himself rather than 
others. 

How blessed it is that voiceless prayer 
reaches Him to whom it is addressed, and 
the suffering heart may, unseen by mortals, 
hold communion with its God ! 

Aunt Dinah and Mira Dempster prayed, 
while Albert Wilson counted the cost, and 
calculated the chances of his reform. 

His life for the last few years, and the 
associations of that life, were all against him. 
His guardian could not be overlooked, and 
he alone knew what influences this bad man 
would bring to bear upon him. To sign the 
pledge was virtually to sever all connection 
between them, save that imposed by law. 

Her cousin was so long silent, that Mira, 
wondering if he had fallen asleep, laid one 
hand lightly upon his, when the quick, warm 


126 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


grasp assured her that slumber had bound 
none of his senses. Still not a word from 
his lips, and not a motion of his body, save 
when an attempt was made to withdraw the 
imprisoned hand. 

Thus half an hour might have passed, in- 
deed it seemed much longer to those who wait- 
ed and prayed, when Albert asked that the 
pledge might be given to him. 

"I want to read it myself,” he added. 
" Place the table and lamp by the bed, where 
I can see.” 

In unrolling the pledge, he was obliged to 
relinquish Mira’s hand. "Don’t leave me,” 
he said, as she turned away. "I shall grow 
weak, if you do. I am going to risk every- 
thing upon one throw. If I win, my life 
will be redeemed; if not, the sooner it is 
over, the better.” 

There was a gleam of the old recklessness 
in his eyes as he closed this sentence ; 
but directly it gave place to a dewy soft- 
ness. 


"I must have pen and ink.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


127 


"I will bring them,” replied Mira ; but he 
retained her, with an entreaty that she would 
not leave him. 

u I need you,” he said. " Kiss me, as my 
mother used to, and let me feel that some 
one cares for me.” 

The kiss was given, and Aunt Dinah , 
brought pen and ink. Mira traced her 
name in delicate lines. Underneath this, 
in strong, bold letters, appeared the signa- 
ture of Albert Wilson, underscored to give 
it emphasis. 

"Now, bless de good Lord,” cried Aunt 
Dinah, falling upon her knees ; and kneeling 
there, in seeming unconsciousness of her 
companions, she poured forth the gratitude 
of her heart. Staying then neither to listen 
nor speak, grasping the precious roll, she 
left the cousins to their own communings. 

" I am so glad, so thankful ! ” said Mira. 

"I am sure you will do right now.” 

" I shall try,” replied Albert. " But, oh, 
such a life as I have to undo ! I shall need 
Aunt Dinah’s prayers and yours too. You 


128 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


do pray, don’t you?” he added, looking at 
her wistfully. 

"Yes, your mother taught me to pray, 
and I have never neglected it.” 

" She taught me too ; but I have despised 
all her teachings. I wonder if I could repeat 
the little prayer we used to say together ? ” 

" Try,” urged his cousin ; and he did try, 
uttering slowly each word, until he reached 
the closing amen. 

" I thought I had forgotten it,” he added, 
in a whisper. 

A light tap on the door announced Aunt 
Dinah’s return. " Sorry to ’sturb you, chil- 
dren,” she said. "But there’s been talkin’ 
nuff for to-night. Spect there’s ’nother day 
cornin’, and I mus’ see ’bout this boy’s 
sleepin’.” 

It was quite time, although he declared he 
was wide-awake, and feeling well, only a 
little tired. 

"Ole auntie knows ’bout that,” was the 
reply of his nurse, as she removed the lamp 
to the farthest corner of the room. She 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


129 


then gave the pillows a vigorous shaking, 
and prepared a sleeping potion, which she 
held to his lips. 

As Mira had glided from the room, and 
Aunt Dinah refused to speak or listen, Al- 
bert, forced to silence, soon yielded to the 
soothing influences by which he was sur- 
rounded, and slept soundly. 

Later, there was another assumption of 
authority, for Mira Dempster could not 
think of sleeping after so eventful an even- 
ing. " Let me sit up and think it all over,” 
she said. "It seems to me I was never so 
happy in my life.” 

"Done thinkin* nufF, for once,” replied her 
companion. "’Fears like you can be happy 
’nother day. Mus’ go to bed, honey, chile 
and this shrewd woman commenced a recital 
of all which must be done the following day. 
"Mus’ sleep some ’fore that,” she said, in 
conclusion. 

Mira could be persuaded to disrobe and 
lay her head upon the pillow; but sleep 
came neither at her bidding, nor that of 
9 


130 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


another. Toward morning she slumbered 
lightly, only to be roused by the first low 
call of her brother. 

It was a busy day for hands and hearts. 
There was cooking to be done in Aunt 
Dinah’s best style ; for Hiram Dempster 
should never complain of the food placed 
before him in his country home. Then a 
general ” charin’ up,” which, although greatly 
enjoyed by its prime mover, required quite 
an outlay of time and strength. 

In the midst of all this, Albert’s wants 
were not neglected, more attention even 
than usual being bestowed upon him. He 
needed sympathy ; for the contents of his 
guardian’s letter had ruffled his spirits, and 
made him wish that he was no longer an 
invalid, dependent upon the care of others. 

Once he would have expressed his annoy- 
ance without reserve ; but he was now mak- 
ing an effort at self-control. Moreover, his 
newly awakened regard for his cousin moved 
him to silence. He would not add a feather’s 
weight to her burden. He spoke of her 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


131 


father’s expected visit, as though having no 
relation to himself; but Mira could not 
allow the day to pass without giving expres- 
sion to her fears. 

"I am afraid father will tempt you,” she 
said, in a constrained voice, which betrayed 
the effort it cost her to speak of him. 

"I know he will,” was the reply. " I have 
thought it all over; and can imagine just 
what he will say. But I believe I am proof 
against his wiles.” 

"I hope and pray you may be,” responded 
Mira, while the hot tears coursed down her 
cheeks. 

Mr. Dempster arrived and received a 
hearty welcome from his younger children. 
He listened eagerly to the report of Albert’s 
improving health, and manifested unusual 
interest in all which was told him, yet he 
was ill at ease. 

Aunt Dinah saw this, and accounted for it 
in her own way. "That bad man,” she 
muttered to herself. "Fightin’ ’gainst the 
Lord, and his ’struction’s sure.” 


132 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


He made but a short visit to Albert’s room 
before supper; but after this inviting meal 
had been eaten and praised, he excused him- 
self from the children, upon the plea that he 
must have a long talk with their cousin. 

He had brought with him a box of tropical 
fruits and delicacies, calculated to tempt the 
appetite of an invalid ; but Aunt Dinah posi- 
tively forbade any being carried to her 
patient that evening. 

Mr. Dempster yielded to her authority; 
at the same time taking occasion to say that 
he had some bottles of choice wine, which 
he thought might be acceptable to one in 
Albert’s condition. 

" I suppose you believe in wine as a medi- 
cine,” he remarked to the sable nurse. 

" Spect I do, sometimes ; and sometimes 
epect I don’t,” was the evasive reply. 

"How about it in this case?” he asked, 
with a slightly confused look. 

" That boy don’t ’long to me.” 

"I hope you’ll not ask Albert to drink 
any wine,” said Mira. " He is doing well, 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


133 


and the doctor says he must take nothing 
stimulating.” 

"Country physicians are not expected to 
know everything. I consulted a friend of 
mine, and he advised different treatment.” 

That was a falsehood ; but this man was 
accustomed to telling falsehoods, and could 
do so without a blush. Afraid that Albert’s 
fortune would slip through his fingers after 
all, he had decided upon his course of action, 
and would allow no scruples or pleadings to 
interfere with him. 

"How soon do you expect to come back to 
us ? ” he asked of his ward. 

"Not at present,” was the answer. "I 
shall be in no haste to leave such comforta- 
ble quarters.” 

"I thought you would be impatient at 
such long confinement.” 

" I am sometimes ; but when I get able to 
walk, it will be very different.” 

"Your old friends will be sorry to hear 
that you intend staying here longer than 
is necessary,” said Mr. Dempster. "They 


134 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


inquire for you very often, and wish to 
see you back. This is a very good place 
to be sick in ; but you used to think it stupid 
enough when you were well.” 

"I have changed my mind,” replied Al- 
bert, quietly. " It is a very good place for 
thinking. At any rate, I have done con- 
siderable thinking since my head cleared 
up.” 

"I am glad you are satisfied,” responded 
his guardian. " I suppose it will be best for 
you to remain here a while longer; but I 
shall want you in the store as soon as you 
are able to attend to business. I don’t find 
any one who fills your place.” 

Albert was not yet ready to announce his 
determination never to return to the store ; 
he kept silence, hoping his uncle would see 
fit to leave him. Not so, however. 

"By the way, I thought you might like 
some of our old Port ; so I brought a few 
bottles,” said this man, who would lure 
another to destruction. 

There was no answer to this ; and he pro- 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 135 

ceeded; "I filled a box with the best of 
everything I could -find in the eating line, 
and took it along with me. You. must be 
tired of sick rations by this time.” 

" Aunt Dinah looks out for that,” replied 
Albert, with more animation than he had 
before manifested. " She is a wonderful 
cook.” 

" I know that ; but she can’t manufacture 
such things as I have brought. You must 
try some of them in the morning, washing 
them down with a glass of old Port. Live 
well, and we shall soon have you on your 
legs again.” 

It is always difficult to sustain a conver- 
sation in which only one of the parties is 
interested, and this fact was becoming every 
moment more apparent to Hiram Dempster. 
Pie really wished for a long talk with his 
ward, and had flattered himself that he 
possessed the ability and material to make 
such a talk acceptable ; but he was com- 
pletely foiled. 

Albert’s indifference, either real or feigned, 


136 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


made it impossible for him to say what he 
desired. After making several ineffectual 
attempts, he was glad to retreat under cover 
of a professed fear that he might weary his 
companion. 

Albert Wilson was sorely tempted to break 
the first condition of his pledge, when the 
door closed behind this man, whom he now 
despised more heartily than ever. His 
head was clear, and his thoughts exceedingly 
busy, and he was now thoroughly con- 
vinced of some things he had before only 
suspected. 

Longing for the presence of some friend, 
the sight of Aunt Dinah’s black face was never 
more welcome, than when she came in to see 
if anything was wanted. 

" I want some fresh air,” was the reply, 
" That man consumed all there was in the 
room.” 

"What you mean, chile?” asked the good 
woman, with so much surprise as to provoke 
a hearty laugh from the " chile.” 

"I mean just what I say,” he answered, 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


137 


" There has been company in here, and now 
I want some fresh air.” 

"I don’t smell nothin’, chile,” said Aunt 
Dinah ; and at this Albert fairly shouted. 

"Make fun of old auntie, will you? ” she 
added, with a puzzled look. " ’Pears like 
you might do better than that.” 

"Let me laugh, auntie ; I have dorfe little 
enough of it lately. But I wish you would 
open a window. The air seems close to 
me.” 

Aunt Dinah complied with this request, 
and then busied herself about the room, all 
the time wishing she knew what had passed 
between Hiram Dempster and his ward. 

" Have you seen the inside of that box, 
uncle told me about ? ” asked Albert. 

"Yes, chile, I has done that; and there’s 
nuff nice things to make folks’ mouth water. 
I can’t tell half.” 

" How about the wine ? ” 

"Dunno nothin ’bout that,” she replied, 
sharply, and then added, in the same breath, 
"Don’t touch it, chile ! ” 


138 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" Of course I shan’t ; I should break my 
pledge if I did, and I suppose you would 
punish me in some way.” 

"Dunno ’bout that, chile. Spectyou don’t 
b’long to me to punish.” 

Albert could talk fast enough now ; and 
seemed in danger of talking quite too much , 
when a peremptory command silenced him. 
"No more talkin’. Shan’t speak ’nother word 
to you.” 

" Don’t be ’fraid, honey. That boy all 
right.” So much, Aunt Dinah found oppor- 
tunity to whisper, in Mira Dempster’s ear, 
accompanying this with a characteristic ges- 
ture, which implied that the matter was set- 
tled beyond all doubt. 

A new fear then took possession of the 
young girl’s heart. She dreaded a rupture 
between her father and her cousin. Both 
were high-tempered, and although she be- 
lieved that Albert had been wronged, she yet 
wished the day of reckoning might be de- 
layed. 

She was not alone in wishing for this 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


139 


delay. Hiram Dempster was greatly troubled 
by his nephew’s strange conduct, and spent 
most of the night in a vain effort to solve the 
mystery. Without suspecting the whole 
truth, it occurred to him, that, under the 
severe discipline of suffering, Albert might 
have formed some resolutions of amend- 
ment. 

" He’ll forget them when once he tastes of 
wine,” muttered his guardian. " I’ll have 
him back in the store as soon as possible.” 

Why was it that at this moment a thought 
of his own boy, whom he loved and petted, 
intruded upon him ? What would become of 
Charley should he die ? 

Well would it have been had he pursued 
this train of reflections, allowing them to pro- 
duce their legitimate effect. 

But he would not. There was wine in the 
house, and he drank sufficient to induce tem- 
porary forgetfulness. 


YI. 


“ God will help you.” Doubly strong 
Are they who trust his power; 

Might and grace with him belong, 

To bless the darkest hour. 

A glorious morning ; the air clear, cool, 
and exhilarating. 

Mira Dempster stood by the door of her 
cottage home, half forgetting the difficulties 
which beset her way, as she looked upon the 
landscape outspread before her. 

God has set his seal of loveliness upon this 
fair earth ; and thrice blessed are they who 
have eyes that they may see. This young 
girl saw ; and, seeing, her heart glowed with 
a sudden transport of joy. But suddenly 
the vision paled as her father stood beside 
her, and she was again groping in dark- 
ness. 

This man was in no mood for appreciating 
beauty or purity. His thoughts were busied 

140 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


141 


with a scheme so base, that even he contem- 
plated it with some misgivings. 

Meanwhile, the quick, impatient ringing 
of a bell summoned Aunt Dinah to her 
patient. 

" That boy no business callin’ now,” she 
muttered, somewhat annoyed at being in- 
terrupted in her preparations for breakfast. 
However, she made all possible haste to obey 
the call, quite recovering her equanimity- 
before reaching the parlor. 

"The top of the morning to you, auntie,” 
was the greeting she received. 

" Good mornin’, chile,” she replied. "’Pears 
like somethin’s the matter with you.” 

"There is,” he answered, laughing. "I’ve 
found a bright idea in my head, and wish you 
to have the benefit of it.” 

" Well, chile ; ” and here the good wom- 
an’s heart gave an ominous beat, so fearful 
was she that that this boy would, in his pres- 
ent humor, declare that signing the pledge 
was only a farce. 

"I am going to get up, dress myself, and 


142 


aunt Dinah’s pledge. 


behave like a well person. It is my opinion 
that I have lain here long enough.” 

" What the doctor say, boy ? Wait till he 
come.” 

" But I can’t wait,” was the reply. " I 
wouldn’t lie here another day for a hundred 
dollars. I must sit up.” 

"Can’t have no such work,” replied the 
careful nurse. " Spect I’ll be blamed for 
nothin’, if you does get up.” 

"No, auntie, you shan’t be blamed: I’ll 
take all the blame on my own shoulders ; but 
get up I must and will. I am expecting a visit 
from my guardian, and must be in readiness 
to receive him.” 

"Well, chile, breakfast’s waitin’ ; I’ll see 
’bout you, bime-by ; ” and back she went to 
the kitchen. 

Nothing was wanting in the arrangement 
of the breakfast, but it failed to tempt the 
appetites of those for whom it was prepared. 
Even the children ate less than usual. 

Ordinarily, Aunt Dinah would have con- 
sidered this positive proof that her cooking 


aunt Dinah’s tledge. 


143 


was not appreciated ; but Albert now so en- 
grossed her attention that she hardly noticed 
what passed at the table. 

" Mus’ see ’bout that boy,” she said to Mira, 
as soon as breakfast was over ; and he was de- 
sirous of her presence, as the bell gave notice. 

" I’ve been waiting with all the patience I 
could muster, auntie. Now, I want you to 
make a good fire, open the windows, and 
bring me a ' clean suit throughout. Don’t 
stop to make objections,” he added. 

"Well, chile,” she answered, a little im- 
patiently, at the same time complying with 
his wishes. 

" Oh, this is glorious ! ” he exclaimed, as 
he inhaled the bracing air. " I shall be strong 
enough for anything in five minutes.” 

Now that the matter was really settled, 
Aunt Dinah entered heartily into the work 
of assisting her patient to appear like " well 
folks.” A neatly arranged room, with no 
traces of disorder, first appeared. Then the 
young man himself was carefully dressed, 
and seated in a luxurious arm-chair. 


144 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


"Now I feel like myself,” lie said. "I am 
ready for company, and can look any man in 
the face.” 

"Spect you want some breakfast now, 
chile,” responded his nurse. 

"I think I should like some r ” he replied. 
" Be sure you give me a cup of good, strong 
coffee. I need the best you can make.” 

" Don’t be afraid. Ole aunty knows ’bout 
that. Shan’t nobody come till you’s ready ; ” 
and, casting another glance around the room, 
she went out. 

" How is your patient this morning ? ” asked 
Mr. Dempster, as she passed him on her way 
to the kitchen. 

" Better,” was the laconic reply. 

" I was just thinking of making him a call, 
but it may be too early.” 

" Spect he’d better have breakfast.” 

" What is the matter with Aunt Dinah ? ” 
now asked Mr. Dempster of his daughter. 
" She seems determined not to talk. Is she 
dissatisfied with working so hard? ” 

"I have no reason to think she is,” re- 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


145 


plied Mira. " She never complains ; but she 
has been very anxious about Albert, and 
must be very tired.” 

” Of course she is,” remarked the father, 
without feeling that this in any way ac- 
counted for her unsocial mood. 

Truth to tell, he stood more in awe of 
Dinah Freeman than of any other human be- 
ing. Rendering a full equivalent for all she 
received, she was in no way dependent upon 
him. While she neither feared nor re- 
spected him, she did not hesitate to censure 
him strongly, whenever occasion seemed to 
demand it. 

This morning, things seemed to her in a 
strangely confused state, and for once dis- 
trusting her ability to improve them she 
wisely kept silence. Albert ate his break- 
fast with a hearty relish, praising it ex- 
travagantly ; yet even this failed to elicit 
what he considered a proper response from 
Aunt Dinah. 

"I am to have a reception this morning, 
and first I wish to see my cousins,” he said, 

10 


146 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


after eating and drinking all which had been 
set before him. 

"Honey, chile, that boy wants you. He’s 
goin to have a ’ception this mornin’.” 

Any one not accustomed to Aunt Dinah 
would have considered this message most 
amusing ; but Mira thought only of its im- 
port. 

She was happy to see her cousin looking 
once more like himself. His hair was yet 
short, but so thick that the deficiency in 
length was scarcely noticed. The scars 
upon his face were partially concealed by a 
soft, silky beard, and there was little to re- 
mind one of the terrible accident which had 
so nearly cost him his life. 

"Your father has brought some wine, this 
time,” he said to his cousin. 

" Yes, I heard him say that he had,” she 
replied. "But, oh, I entreat you not to 
taste it.” 

" There is no need of your doing that ; I 
trust my pledge is sufficient ; and I believe I 
am strong enough to resist any temptation. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


147 


But God only knows. I hope your father 
won’t bring wine into this room. It seems 
to me he would prefer that I should go on 
in the old way.” 

Mira covered her face with her hands. 
• She had been forced to the same conclusion, 
terrible as it was ; and now, perhaps within the 
next hour, the final struggle would take place. 
If Albert conquered, he might be counted 
safe for all time ; but if his guardian, by 
persuasion, or otherwise, could induce him 
to taste of wine his destruction was sure. 

There were three who realized this : Mr. 
Dempster, his daughter, and his ward. 
Most unhappy was the position of this young 
girl, compelled to oppose her father’s influ- 
ence, yet ever fearing the result. 

Now that his better nature was in the as- 
cendant, Albert felt for her a tender sym- 
pathy. "Pardon me for speaking in that 
way of your father,” he said, kindly. " My 
provocation has been very great, but I ought 
not to trouble you.” 

" I know .you have had great provoca- 


148 


aunt uinah’s pledge. 


tion,” she replied, sorrowfully. ”1 have 
tried to do right, but it sometimes seems to 
me that we are all doomed. I tremble for 
Charley.” 

"Not all doomed, cousin,” responded Al- 
bert, looking at her tenderly. "You are 
in no danger, and if I live I will help you 
train Charley, so that he may be spared the 
bitter experience I have known. You see 
I am getting solemn,” he added, making an 
effort to speak lightly, and hoping thus to 
turn the current of Mira’s thoughts. 

But his own were tending in the same 
direction, as his next remark proved. 
" When I woke this morning I was in jubi- 
lant spirits. It seemed to me I could with- 
stand the world, and do what I know to be 
right. But just thinking of that wine has 
given me a desire for it. God help me, for 
I am very weak 1 ” 

" He will help you, if you try to do right. 
But my father ! What will become of him ? 
He is coming, I must go,” she exclaimed, as 
the hall door opened. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


149 


Albert drew her face to his, and kissed her. 
The next moment Hiram Dempster entered, 
bringing a bottle of wine and glasses, which 
he placed upon the table. 

"Really, Albert, this is a surprise,” he 
said. "Aunt Dinah told me you were not 
to sit up for three days longer.” 

" Aunt Dinah is usually supposed to know 
whereof she affirms,” replied the young man. 
" But I rebelled, and hence her mistake. 
I have an idea of setting up for myself, gen- 
erally. I am nearly of age, and can antici- 
pate a little, in case of emergency.” 

"You must be setting up for yourself in 
good earnest, if you have refused to obey 
Aunt Dinah,” responded his guardian. " She 
is a positive character.” 

" She is quite a remarkable character in 
her way. I have learned to know and ap- 
preciate her, during the last few weeks; 
and I honestly believe I should have died 
but for her.” 

"Possibly. We must see that she is well 
repaid for her trouble.” 


150 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


Mr. Dempster looked at kis daughter, as 
though expecting she would leave the room ; 
hut she was not inclined to do so. 

" I brought in this wine, thinking you 
might like a glass,” he remarked to Albert. 
"Mira is very temperate, but perhaps she 
will drink this morning to your improved 
health.” 

Albert Wilson’s face grew livid with 
anger. Another passion, too, assailed him. 
It was no easy thing to sit there, with the 
wine-bottle by his side, and yet refuse to 
taste of its contents. A terrible thirst 
seemed consuming him as the wicked eyes 
of his uncle rested upon him. Twice he 
opened his lips, and essayed to speak ; but 
not until the glasses were filled did he utter 
a single word. 

" Take that wine away,” he then exclaimed, 
hoarsely. " Take it away.” 

" Why ? What is the matter with you ? ” 
asked Hiram Dempster, in a tone of af- 
fected surprise. "I didn’t know that you 
ever refused good wine. This is some of 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


151 


the very best ; no sham about it ; ” and he 
moved a glass nearer to his nephew. 

The fumes of the wine appealed to his 
senses, nearly maddening him ; and for a 
moment he seemed to hesitate. His 
tempter saw it. Mira saw it, too, and 
placed one hand lightly upon his head. 

" You have saved me,” he cried, clasping 
her hand with warmth. " Take the wine 
away.” 

"Shall I carry it out?” asked Mira, turn- 
ing to her father. 

"No,” he answered, angrily. "Take 
yourself out, and leave me to manage my 
own affairs.” 

Never before had her father spoken to 
her in such a tone, and without a word of 
remonstrance she left the room. 

" Trust me. All the powers of darkness 
couldn’t compel me to taste of that wine 
now,” said Albert, as she was closing the 
door. 

These two men, thus left alone, sat con- 
fronting each other with steady gaze, until 


152 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


Hiram Dempster, convinced that he was 
playing a losing game, changed his tac- 
tics. 

”1 never dreamed of getting up such a 
scene as this, when I packed some of our 
choicest old Port. I thought it was just 
what you needed, and for all that has hap- 
pened I haven’t changed my mind. It 
would do you good, and I don’t understand 
your scruples about drinking it.” 

Albert Wilson set his teeth firmly, strug- 
gling for composure. The man before him 
had quite recovered from his ebullition of 
temper, and was now cool, wary, and de- 
termined. 

" You know what I have been,” at length 
said Albert, — "a reckless, dissipated fel- 
low.” 

"You call yourself hard names,” inter- 
rupted his guardian, with an insinuating 
smile. " You have led a jolly life ; but 
young men must sow some wild oats, and I 
expect you will make one of our most sub- 
stantial merchants yet.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


153 


" I hope I may,” replied Albert. " I have 
sowed plenty of wild oats, and for the last 
five weeks have been reaping the harvest. 
It has proved a very unprofitable invest- 
ment, and I believe I have done with that 
kind of farming.” 

”1 am not sure that I quite understand 
you,” remarked Mr. Dempster, coolly. " If 
you mean that you have been a little too 
fast, in some things, I am ready to agree 
with you, and shall approve any resolutions 
of amendment you may see fit to make. 
As your guardian I have never attempted 
a rigid control of your actions. You have 
chosen for yourself.” Here the speaker 
paused, sipping leisurely of the sparkling 
wine. 

Had Albert Wilson yielded to the prompt- 
ings of his excited feelings, he would have 
hurled bottle and glasses at the head of his 
guardian ; but this would have defeated his 
own ends. 

" I have made some resolutions of amend- 
ment,” he said, with a great effort at self- 


154 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


control. " From this time, God helping me, 
I will neither swear, smoke, nor drink.” 

" That’s going it strong,” was the mocking 
response. "You must calculate upon being 
quite a saint, if you stick to your resolu- 
tions.” 

Thus far, in the interview, Hiram Demp- 
ster had confined himself to gentlemanly 
manners, and methods of speech. He was 
now getting a little beyond them, and pres- 
ently his voice was heard in loud, angry 
tones. 

Albert was then master of the situation, 
and improved his advantage to state defi- 
nitely what were his intentions. He would 
not return to the store, or in any way help 
to carry on the business of liquor-selling. 
"I have done with gambling too,” he said; 
" done with it forever.” 

" What do you propose to do for the next 
year? ” asked* his guardian. 

" I am not decided in regard to that,” was 
the reply. " I am old enough to think of 
some permanent business.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


155 


" There will be a good opening in our firm 
when Lucas retires, but it’s of no use to say 
anything about that till you get over some 
of your extra nice notions.” 

" It will never be of any use. My money 
must be invested in something besides 
liquor.” 

Mr. Dempster winced at this ; and again 
filled his glass with wine, taking care to 
pour it as deliberately as possible. 

This, of course, was done with a purpose. 
He understood the torture he was inflicting, 
and counted on it as a powerful aid in his 
nefarious scheme. If Albert would but 
touch his lips to the wine, all would be 
over. 

But he would not ; and by a movement 
which might have seemed to a casual ob- 
server purely accidental, the contents of 
both glasses were spilled. 

"Really, I beg your pardon,” said Mr. 
Dempster, as his companion manifested some 
annoyance at the drops upon his hands, which 
he instantly removed. 


156 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


Involuntarily, lie was about to pass the 
handkerchief across his heated brow, when 
he remembered himself, and dropped it upon 
the floor. Touching the bell at the same 
moment, he summoned Aunt Dinah. 

" Uncle has made your presence neces- 
sary,” he said, pointing to the table, as she 
entered the room. "I will thank you for 
a clean handkerchief. This is saturated 
with wine, and unfit for use. Please take it 
away.” 

Dinah Freeman looked inquiringly at the 
men before her, wondering what would be 
the result of this interview ; and half inclined 
to assert her authority as nurse. She made 
no reply, however, but hastened to remove 
the table. 

"Very awkward in me to make you so 
much trouble,” said Mr. Dempster, annoyed 
at the turn affairs were taking. 

Still no reply. The woman thus ad- 
dressed left the room in silence. 

"If you have anything further to say to 
me this morning I shall be glad to hear it,” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


157 


remarked Albert Wilson. "I am getting 
tired.” 

"You have excited yourself for nothing,” 
replied his guardian, with a sneer. " One 
would think I had been tempting you to 
some terrible crime.” 

At this moment Aunt Dinah returned, and 
proceeded to do what was required of her, 
Hiram Dempster wishing, all the time, he 
could in some way neutralize the influence 
she had over his ward. 

"I am very tired,” at length said the 
young man. 

" Spect you be, chile. Talked nuff this 
mornin’. Mus’ rest now.” 

"I want to rest,” he replied, throwing 
back his head like a tired child. 

Dr. Waring’s voice was now heard, and 
directly he opened the door. A series of 
discomfitures awaited the master of the 
house this morning ; but there was no re- 
treat. 

"How is this?” exclaimed the doctor, 
without stopping for customary salutations. 


158 


aunt dinaii’s pledge. 


"My orders have been disobeyed. Who is 
responsible ? ” 

" I suppose I am,” responded Albert. "I 
insisted upon getting up.” 

" A great mistake in you, and one I didn’t 
expect. We’ve bad a hard time to get you 
where you are. Been stimulating, too, I 
see,” he added, angrily, glancing at the wine 
bottle and glasses. " Worse and worse ! I 
hoped better things of you.” 

"I’ve had nothing more stimulating than 
a cup of Aunt Dinah’s coffee this morning,” 
was the reply. " That wine belongs to my 
uncle, and is here for his own pleasure.” 

This put a new aspect upon the matter, 
and the physician instantly addressed him- 
self to Mr. Dempster. " Excuse me,” he 
said. " The sight of my patient in a state of 
rebellion put all other thoughts out of my 
head. It’s risky business for him to get up 
in this way, and I must insist upon the most 
• perfect quiet.” 

" I hope I have done him no injury,” re- 
plied the gentleman, with some confusion. 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


159 


" I thought a glass of wine might be of ser- 
vice to him.” 

" A great mistake. A very great mistake, 
allow me to say. It was never less needed 
by any one. I have given especial orders in 
regard to that, and while he is under my 
care they must be obeyed.” 

How Aunt Dinah blessed him for those 
words, mentally thanking the good Lord for 
having put them into his heart ! 

Mr. Dempster acquiesced with ready po- 
liteness, professing the utmost solicitude for 
the health of his nephew. 

" Perhaps I had better take myself and the 
offending wine out of the room,” he re- 
marked, with affected pleasantry; and, no 
objection being made, he could but act upon 
his own suggestion. 

Albert drew a long sigh of relief, as his 
guardian closed the door, exclaiming, in the 
next breath, "Do, auntie, give me a cup of 
coffee, I am so thirsty.” 

"Dunno ’bout that, chile.” 

"Let him have the coffee if he wishes it.” 


160 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


Dr. Waring had undertaken the care of 
Albert Wilson with very little interest, aside 
from its bearing upon his own professional 
reputation, but the young man had now a 
strong hold upon his sympathy. Unprinci- 
pled and reckless as he had been, the good 
in his nature was not yet wholly destroyed. 

But few words were exchanged during 
Aunt Dinah’s absence, she being careful that 
this absence should be short ; yet enough was 
told to convince the doctor that his patient 
had been subjected to a severe temptation. 

" You are right,” he said. " If you yield, 
there’s no telling where you’ll bring up 
next. Leave wine and every other liquor to 
those who have cooler heads than yours.” 

" The best coffee I ever tasted,” said Al- 
bert, when he had drained the last drop from 
the cup. " A drink fit for the gods, and for 
which mortals can never be sufficiently 
grateful.” 

" Enthusiastic ! ” replied the doctor, while 
Aunt Dinah’s face was lighted up with a 
smile of intense satisfaction. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


161 


"Set up long miff for once, chile,” she 
said. 

" Yes,” answered the invalid. " I am 
ready to lie down ; hut it has done me good 
to be up ; I felt more like a man.” 

While this was going on in the sick-room, 
Mr. Dempster paced the garden- walks, car- 
rying Charley in his arms, occasionally an- 
swering the child’s questions in a way which 
showed that his mind was preoccupied. He 
had make a miserable failure of all he at- 
tempted that morning. His ward was fur- 
ther removed from him than ever before. 
His daughter was grieved and indignant, 
while his own soul was more deeply stained 
with guilt, — and all for nothing. 

If he had succeeded in his purpose with 
Albert, he fancied he would have been better 
satisfied ; and yet this was not certain. Char- 
ley’s soft cheek rested against his own, stir- 
ring 1 all the father within him. The words he 
had heard rang again in his ears : " I sup- 
pose my father loved his boy as well as 
you do yours.” Just as well. Perhaps bet- 
11 ' 


162 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


ter. He remembered Mr. Wilson’s love for 
Albert, and clasped his own boy more 
closely. Oily came toward them with a 
troubled look. "Sister Mi is crying,” she 
said. " I asked her what was the matter, 
and she wouldn’t tell me.” 

"Let me go,” exclaimed Charley, strug- 
gling to free himself from his father’s arms. 
" I must take care of Sister Mi ; ” and away 
ran the child, hardly pausing to take breath, 
until he found his sister in her chamber. 
Essaying all childish ways to comfort her,- 
his own tears mingled with hers, when these 
proved unavailing. 

Soon Oily .came back, and then two chil- 
dren begged to know why Sister Mi wept ; 
but her grief was too deep for their sympa- 
thy to fathom. She persuaded them to 
leave her, promising to meet them in the 
dining-room, and hear their lessons, some- 
what earlier than usual. 

She went down the stairs, just as Dr. War- 
ing stepped into the hall, and Albert hearing 
her, asked that she would come to him. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


163 


"Just a mimute,” he said to Aunt Dinah, 
who objected to any more talking. 

" Come in, honey ; ” and the speaker passed 
out, that her presence might not interrupt 
the confidence of these cousins. 

"Don’t mind what your father said,” half 
whispered Albert. " He was angry, or he 
never would have spoken as he did. The 
trouble was all on my account. I am going 
to help you now, and you shall see what a 
good brother I can be,” he added, with a 
smile, striving to divert her thoughts. 

"Did you drink the wine?” she asked. 

"No, Cousin Mi, I didn’t; but it was a 
hard place for one like me. I was very 
angry, and that helped me. The speech 
which hurt, you benefited me ; so we can 
offset, and let it go for nothing.” 

Mira could hardly find words to express 
her . gratitude ; yet enough had been said, 
when she was reminded that " that boy mus’ 
rest.” 

Aunt Dinah was in the best of spirits ; 
and, as a natural consequence, made extra 


164 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


preparations for dinner. So much was 
done that Charley asked who was coming. 

Albert slept, his uncle making no effort 
to see him again, until nearly time for their 
early tea. He had then quite recovered 
his usual manner, and conversed upon in- 
different subjects, making no allusion to the 
events of the morning. 

What became of the pure Old Port no one 
but its owner knew. It disappeared, and 
this was such cause for rejoicing that no ques- 
tions were asked. The other contents of the 
box were eaten with a keen relish, Aunt 
Dinah and her boys receiving their full 
share. 

Mr. Dempster seemed desirous of being 
on good terms with all ; and, however he may 
have felt, exerted himself to banish unpleas- 
ant memories. To Mira he was more than 
usually kind ; praising her excellent manage- 
ment of the children, and offering her unlim- 
ited indulgence in everything which money 
could procure. 

Oily and Charley thought their father had 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


165 


never been so nice ; but Dinah Freeman 
shook her head ominously. "Somethin’s 
brewin’,” she muttered. " ’Taint nothin’ 
good neither.” 

Thus matters stood while Mr. Dempster 
remained ; and, contrary to what might have 
been expected, he made no further effort to 
lure his ward back to old habits. " I shall 
expect to see you as soon as you are able to 
work again,” he said, on the morning of his 
departure, quite ignoring the determination 
which had been previously expressed by the 
young man. 

" Guess he didn’t make out much this 
time,” said Edgar, with a flourish of long 
arms, when this man had really gone. 

"Albert Wilson was all right last even- 
ing ; straight as a line, and bound to keep 
so. I tell you what ’tis, Kufe, mother beats 
the crowd for training boys in the way 
they should go. 

" She has had some practice,” quietly re- 
marked the elder brother. " Besides, she 
knows where to go for help.” 


166 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


"Yes, I know all about that. The good 
Lord helps her, as she says ; but ’tis my 
opinion that she does something herself. 
When she says the word it’s time to start.” 

Hiram Dempster was thinking much the 
same thing as he rode along with his hat 
pulled over his eyes to shut out the view of 
what was passing around him. "A remark- 
able woman, determined to have her own 
way ; but true as steel, and to be trusted in 
any emergency.” 

There was no gainsaying this ; and, al- 
though angry at her interference with some 
of his plans, he could not but acknowledge 
that she was in the right. Then he fell to 
wondering wherein lay her power, and 
whence she had gained such wisdom. 

Directly came to his mind those words 
which Mira had read in his hearing, the 
evening before : " The fear of the Lord is 

the beginning of wisdom.” 


VII. 


While oft we grope in blindness, 

Doubting, from day to day, 

God’s hand, outstretched in kindness, 

Leads us the destined way. 

Aunt Dinah was preparing a company 
dinner. She had hardly looked into her 
own kitchen since leaving it early in the 
morning, and everybody in the family knew 
that an unusual amount of marketing had 
been done the day before. 

" There, honey, chile, I’ve done my best,” 
said the cook, when the last dish was taken 
from the fire. "I couldn’t do no better for 
the President.” 

It was with mingled feelings of pleasure 
and sadness that Albert Wilson, who had 
been so long confined as an invalid, seated 
himself at the luxuriously spread table. 
Since he sat there last he had suffered what 
few can suffer and live. Defiant then, his 

167 


168 


aunt dtnah’s pledge. 


motto "A short life and a merry one,” he 
had well-nigh solved the mystery of death, 
and paid the penalty of his sins. 

It seemed strange to his young cousins 
that he did not join more heartily in their 
expressions of delight, and Charley looked 
at him in astonishment when a tear trembled 
in his eye and sobs choked his utterance. 

"You see what you have done, auntie, 
— made a real baby of me,” said Albert, at 
length. "I knew you were spoiling me, all 
the time. It will take more than a year for 
me to get over it.” 

"Hope so, chile,” was the laconic reply. 
When remembering that this dinner had 
been gotten up in honor of his first appear- 
ance' at the table, the young man addressed 
himself to the substantial viands before him. 

It is needless to repeat the praises be- 
stowed upon this dinner. It is sufficient to 
say that the cook was made happy, and con- 
sidered her labor well repaid. 

After dinner Charley was silent, seeming 
to have some subject of importance under 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


109 


consideration. At length he gave a clue to 
what this might he, by asking his sister if 
she should allow Albert to smoke in the 
dining-room. 

"I am not going to smoke at all,” re- 
sponded his cousin. 

" I thought you always did after you get 
up from the table,” said the child, inno- 
cently. 

" I always used to, but I have given up 
smoking how.” 

"Why?” 

"Lots of reasons, that I’ll tell you when 
you are older.” 

" I guess I know now. Sister Mi told you 
not to. She says it’s bad and makes all the 
house smell so ; ” and this last remark was 
rendered peculiarly emphatic by the expres- 
sive countenance of the speaker. " Why 
don’t ladies smoke?” he asked, directly. 

" Some of them do,” answered Albert. 

" I never saw any. Sister Mi don’t ; and 
Miss Marvin don’t ; and Aunt Dinah don’t.” 

"Spect they don’t,” exclaimed the last- 


170 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


named individual. "Ketch me havin’ that 
nasty ’bacco roun’. I hate it.” 

"Cousin Mi will say amen to that,” re- 
sponded Albert, "and I hope I shall some- 
time be able to join you.” 

"Can’t you now, chile?” 

" Not exactly. ' The spirit is willing, but 
the flesh is weak.’ I wish I had never seen 
a cigar. Smoking makes way for drinking.” 

"Yes, chile; one bad practice always fol- 
lows ’nother.” 

Mira, mindful of the boys in the other 
cottage, moved from the table, thus inter- 
rupting the conversation. 

"We will finish this subject some other 
time,” said Albert. "I have thought a good 
deal about it during the last few days. In 
fact, I have been compelled to do so. To- 
bacco is a very tyrant, when once it gets the 
mastery, as I have learned to my sorrow. 
We must never let Charley taste it.” 

" Why, you said — ” 

" I said a great many foolish things,” in- 
terrupted the young man. " You must for- 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


171 


get them just as fast as you can, and re- 
member what I say now. You must never 
swear, or smoke, or drink anything stronger 
then tea and coffee. Do you understand 
that ? ” 

"Yes,” answered Charley, looking ear- 
nestly in his cousin’s face. "Sister Mi says 
that, and she knows all the good.” 

"And I know all the bad. More’s the 
pity.” 

" Sister Mi can tell you how to be good,” 
replied the child, reaching up his arms. 
The next moment he was raised from the 
floor, while a proud head bowed upon his 
shoulder, to conceal the fast-falling tears. 
Charley caught a glimpse of those tears, and 
wondered why Cousin Albert felt so bad 
now he was all well. 

It was not quite sure to the young man’s 
mind that he was all w T ell. His moral na- 
ture had been so deeply diseased it could not 
be expected to recover a healthy tone at 
once. He could keep guard over his lips, 
but his thoughts seemed often beyond his 


172 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


control. As he was now situated, his only 
temptations to evil came from within. How 
would it be when he should once more go 
out into the world ? 

During the afternoon an incident oc- 
curred which illustrated Aunt Dinah’s hatred 
of tobacco, and caused no little merriment 
among those who witnessed it. She was at 
work in the kitchen, when a man came to 
the door to make some inquiries. He was 
smoking, and, not thinking it worth while to 
waste politeness on a black woman, replaced 
his pipe in his mouth, after asking a ques- 
tion. This was all which could be borne, 
and when a whiff of smoke was blown directly 
in her face, the door was shut with a charac- 
teristic " Ugh ! ” 

The man stood for a moment, as though 
expecting the door would be again opened, 
but, disappointed in this, he rapped loudly. 

" You’ll put away that nasty pipe ’fore I 
talk to you,” exclaimed Aunt Dinah, hold- 
ing the door so nearly closed that only her 
eyes and mouth could be seen. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


173 


"Whew! That’s the trouble, is it? 
’Taint many women-folks make such a fuss 
as that ; ” and the smoker held his pipe be- 
hind him. " Guess you don’t like tobacco,” 
he said, when ready to take his leave. 

" Spect I don’t. I’ve seen nuff that dirty 
stuff.” 

This opened the way for quite a discussion 
in regard to the use of this vile weed, which 
so many roll as a sweet morsel under their 
tongues. 

" Can’t tell nothin’ why men will use that 
stuff,” said Dinah Freeman, when her kitchen 
was invaded by four " childem, ” all eager to 
hear what she would say in regard to her late 
visitor. 

"I’m sure I can’t tell,” responded Albert. 
"It has always seemed strange to me, when- 
ever I stopped to think of it.” 

" Wish ’twould make every one sick nuff 
to most die.” 

"It does, when they first begin to use it ; 
but that makes no difference. I was so sick, 
that I thought for a while I should be 


174 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


obliged to give up trying to smoke. As for 
chewing, I had no taste that way. It is too 
filthy.” 

" Ugh ! I should think so, chile. Tears 
like I’d be sick all the time.” 

" O Aunt Dinah, such a face as you make 
up ! ” cried Charley. 

"You taste ’bacco, chile, and see what a 
face you make up,” was the reply. "My 
boys don’t have none ’roun’, and my ole man 
didn’t neither.” 

"If all the women were of your mind, 
auntie, the tobacco crop wouldn’t pay for 
harvesting,” said Albert. "And if that was 
out of the way, there would be less liquor 
drank than there is now.” 

"Spect there would, boy. ’Bacco makes 
’em dry all time. Don’t nothin’ taste right. 
Dirty creeturs, spittin’ ’roun’, and spectin’ 
somebody’ll jes run ’roun’ after ’em, with a 
mop. Honey, chile, don’t never marry none 
of them ’bacco-chewers,” she added, turning 
to Mira. 

Fastidious gentleman may consider this a 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


175 


somewhat coarse description; but to those 
who listened it seemed not a whit over- 
stated. Indeed, Albert Wilson was so im- 
pressed with its truthfulness that he clapped 
his hands, and shouted bravo at the top of 
his voice. 

Then, the advice given to Mira. Think 
of such a rose-bud mouth pressed by lips 
discolored with tobacco ! Love is said to be 
all powerful, but it cannot always render the 
senses oblivious. 

"There, childern, spect you’ve laughed 
nuff now, and that boy’s, getting too tired,” 
said Aunt Dinah, when the tumult of laugh- 
ter had somewhat subsided. " Mus’ go 
right olf now, else you’ll have ’nother sick 
spell.” 

"I am ready to go,” was the reply. "I 
have had a good dinner, and a good lecture. 
Cousin Mi, don’t forget auntie’s advice,” he 
added, looking back, with a quizzical smile. 

"]STo danger she will, boy. I knows ’bout 
that.” 

Soon there was quiet in the kitchen, while 


176 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


a table in the dining-room was spread with 
brilliant-hued and feathery mosses. 

The days were short, reminding one of 
coming winter, and in anticipation of this 
Oily had collected a large store of such 
treasures as nature’s snowy mantle would 
then conceal. In arranging these, even 
Charley could give assistance, so carefully 
did he clip away the coarse and faded parts. 
Oily had permission to try her skill in mak- 
ing a bouquet for Miss Marvin ; and as each 
tiny bit was held up for Sister Mi’s opinion, 
tongues moved as rapidly as fingers. 

"A happy family,” thought Rufus Free- 
man, who opened the -door in answer to a 
call from Charley. 

"I have been watching you in the garden, 
and hoped you would visit us,” said Mira. 
" There is the arm-chair waiting to be occu- 
pied.” 

" I didn’t think of coming in when I left 
the shop,” was the reply. "But mother 
beckoned to me from the window; so I 
obeyed.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


177 


" I am afraid you have found yourself neg- 
lected to-day. Your mother has been very 
busy.” 

" Oh, no, Miss Mira ; I have been well 
cared for. Mother never neglects her lame 
boy ; ” and, as he said this, he laid aside his 
crutches, and, drawing the arm-chair a little 
nearer to the table, seated himself. 

" I’ve been wishing to try my hand at this 
business when I could find leisure ; but your 
success discourages me. I have no heart to 
attempt what must prove a failure.” 

"That is not right,” answered Mira. "I 
have never known you to fail in what you 
attempted. You have a good eye for the 
disposal of colors, and could easily eclipse 
me. Suppose you make your first attempt 
this afternoon.” 

A few words, thus spoken in kindness, 
transformed the world to this unfortunate 
one. Unfortunate, — and yet many, honored 
of men, and counted far above their fellows, 
possessed not half the noble gifts which 
characterized black Rufus. 

12 


178 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


For a little while he forgot all which 
separated him from others, and gave free 
expression to his thoughts. His clear dis- 
crimination, combined with great delicacy of 
taste, made him a choice companion to those 
who could understand and appreciate him. 
The children were charmed by his odd re- 
marks and queer fancies. It was just like 
hearing stories all the time. 

So much occupied were they all, that 
Edgar’s whistle was first to remind them of 
the approach of night. Rufus took up his 
crutches, apologizing for having stopped so 
long. 

"I’ve been glad every minute you stayed,” 
exclaimed Charley. " Don’t go yet,” he 
added. "I want to hear some more.” 

"We all wish to hear more,” said Mira, 
looking up from the mosses. "You have 
woven some of your fancies into beautiful 
forms. That bouquet eclipses mine ; but 
you might enlarge it to advantage. Come 
again to-morrow.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


179 


”1 must make up for lost time then. I 
was tired of work to-day.” 

Rufus Freeman thought he spoke truly in 
saying this ; but he was more tired of think- 
ing than of work. He needed to remember 
that the "good Lord” had made him. In 
some way this truth had come home to him 
with new power that afternoon ; and he 
went home rejoicing that One who was far 
wiser than himself had appointed his lot in 
life. 

Aunt Dinah wondered that she heard 
nothing from Albert but this was explained 
by the fact that he had been sleeping. 

"IVe had a queer dream,” he said, laugh- 
ing. "iVe been in the land of tobacco. 
Everything smelled of tobacco, tasted of 
tobacco, and its broad leaf was the only 
green thing to be seen. Smokers and chew- 
ers thought themselves in paradise for a little 
while ; but they soon grew tired of it. The 
worst trouble seemed to be that there was no 
such thing known as sweeping or house- 
cleaning.” 


180 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


"Wan’t there no women, there, chile?” 
asked Aunt Dinah. 

" Only a few, and they were as bad as the 
men. Everything was steeped in tobacco ; 
and you may be sure I was glad enough to 
find myself in a clean room when I awoke. 
Twenty-four hours in that country would 
satisfy any one.” 

" Wish the ’bacco men was all there, by 
’em'selves. ’Pears like ’twas a vision, chile,” 
said Aunt Dinah, as she went out to prepare 
food for the dreamer. 

It might have been well had a vision 
been vouchsafed to Hiram Dempster at this 
time. He was never before so perplexed 
and troubled. The fortune he hatl coveted 
seemed to elude his grasp ; clerks proved 
unfaithful ; he met with losses at the gaming- 
table, and he was sometimes tempted to give 
up business while sure of a moderate compe- 
tence. 

If all he had invested in the liquor traffic 
belonged to himself he need not fear ; but a 
large part of this must be paid over to Albert 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


181 


Wilson, unless some way of escape could be 
found. 

Under the spur of excited feelings he 
wrote to his ward, desiring his presence in 
the city at the earliest possible moment. As 
might have been expected, this elicited a 
reply which augured ill for the young man’s 
submission in future. He preferred the 
quiet of a country home to the bustle of 
the city, and was in no haste to change his 
quarters. Soon after this, Mr. Dempster 
received a letter asking information in re- 
gard to his ward. A cousin, bearing the 
same name, and but few years his senior, 
was desirous of making his acquaintance. 

Nothing could have been more opportune 
for Albert Wilson, junior. The cousin lost 
no time in addressing him, and thus a new 
influence was brought to bear upon his life. 

After an exchange of several letters, they 
were mutually desirous of meeting ; and 
before the Christmas holidays were over 
Aunt Dinah was told that another Albert 
Wilson was coming to the cottage. 


182 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" Hope he’s good, chile,” she said to Mira. 

" I am sure that he is,” was the reply. 
" Cousin Albert has read his letters to me, 
and he writes like a Christian.” 

" That’s right, honey. Spect the good 
Lord takes care ’bout them things. Don’t 
make no difference what way, easy or hard. 
He knows all ’bout it.” 

The guest was heartily welcomed, and 
soon made himself at home with the children, 
who regarded him as an old friend. 

There was a strong resemblance between 
the two young men, the disparity in their 
ages being scarcely apparent. Dissipation 
and suffering had given to the face of the 
younger a look which belonged to more ad- 
vanced years, while that of the elder retained 
much of the freshness of boyhood. 

While she seemed intent only upon serv- 
ing, Aunt Dinah made an estimate of the 
new-comer’s character, and reported favora- 
bly. "He’ll do,” she said to Eufus, who 
was careful to avoid seeing or being seen. 

His deformity rendered him peculiarly 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


183 


averse to meeting strangers, and he flattered 
himself that .he should be unnoticed. But 
one bright morning a rap at the door of his 
shop announced company. 

" Come ! ” he said, without rising from his 
bench ; and, in answer to his summons, the 
two cousins stood before him. 

" How are you, my old fellow? ” exclaimed 
Albert. " Never darkened the doors of my 
sick-room ; but I’m not going to lay it up 
against you. This is my first call, and I’ve 
brought my better self to share it. Mr. 
Albert Wilson, senior, this is our friend, 
Rufus Freeman. Please, to be seated.” 

This running speech, delivered with the 
greatest good-humor, was quite long enough 
to give Rufus time to recover from his first 
surprise. He extended his hand cordially 
to both visitors, making them welcome to 
the best accommodations he could offer. 

"Don’t let us interrupt you,” said Albert. 
" The music of your hammer will make a 
pleasant accompaniment to our voices.” 

"I am not so hurried but I can stop 


184 


atjnt dinah’s pledge. 


awhile,” was the reply. "I don’t often 
receive such visitors.” 

" A rare occurrence, surely. I have been 
wishing to see you, arid this cousin of mine 
is anxious to make the acquaintance of our 
whole family.” 

For the next few minutes the hammer was 
plied, a little nervously at intervals, while a 
desultory sort of talk went on. 

At length a remark made by the stranger 
arrested the attention of Kufus Freeman. 
Instantly his dark face was all aglow with 
animation, as he replied earnestly. One 
subject after another was discussed, upon all 
of which his ideas were clear and well ex- 
pressed. " You must have read a great deal, 
to be so well posted up. You have im- 
proved your mind while I have been burning 
tobacco, and watching the smoke. I’ve 
made a precious fool of myself.” 

"I suppose you know best about that,” 
replied Rufus, to whom this remark had 
been addressed. 

" I know more about it than I wish I did. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


185 


I have a great deal to unlearn, and that is 
just the hardest thing in the world to do,” 
said Albert. "But what can’t be cured 
must be endured,” he added, with a touch 
of his old manner. 

A half-reproving glance from his cousin 
called forth an explanation. " I .mean that I 
must pay the penalty of my folly ; and there 
is no use to spend time in idle regrets. Re- 
grets alone never accomplished any good. 
It is easy to express sorrow, but difficult to 
make amends for wrong-doing.” 

" It would be better not to do the wrong,” 
remarked Rufus. 

" Infinitely better,” responded the young- 
est of the trio. "If the boys of the country 
could be made to believe this, how much 
misery would be saved.” 

"I wouldn’t confine this knowledge to 
boys,” said his cousin. "Every human 
being needs to know it, — the old and young, 
rich and poor, learned and unlearned. More 
than half the energies of life run to waste.” 

" That is too moderate a statement. More 


186 


aunt Dinah’s pledge. 


than half the energies of life are misdirected. 
I should like to know what good I have 
done, in the twenty years of my life. Just 
about as much as thousands and ten thou- 
sands of others, who spend their time in 
acquiring and fostering habits which will 
drag them down to perdition. I’m not sure 
but I had better set up for a reformer,” he 
added, smiling at his own impetuosity. 

"You would make a good one,” responded 
Rufus, looking upon the young man with 
admiration. 

" I don’t know about that ; but I should 
be in earnest. This is a terrible wicked 
world. Did you know it ? ” 

"I have seen but little of its wicked- 
ness. You know — ’’and here the speaker 
paused. 

" Yes, I know. But the law of compen- 
sation holds good with you, as with others. 
Ah, I tell you, old fellow, there is nothing 
so good to carry about with you as a clear 
conscience.” 

" True ; yet the world looks brighter from 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


187 


some stand-points than others ; if you 
were leaning on a pair of crutches, for 
instance.” 

"Your eyes might, even then, be. un- 
dimmed,” remarked Mr. Wilson, and then 
adroitly turned the conversation, by speak- 
ing of a book which lay on a shelf over the 
shoemaker’s bench. 

It seemed to him strange that such a book 
should be there ; more strange still that it 
should have been read and appreciated. 
But such was the case, and its contents fur- 
nished so varied topics of interest that 
the whole morning was spent in this consid- 
eration. 

" There is genius asserting itself under 
difficulties,” said Mr. Wilson, as he went 
out of the shop. 

"Rare genius,” was the reply. "Black 
Rufus, as we call him, would put to blush 
most white men. He has always been shy 
of me, and no wonder; although in my 
worst days I had no inclination to ridicule 
him. I pity him ; yet only his body is mis- 


188 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


shapen. I wonder how souls would look, if 
they were to take upon themselves appro- 
priate forms ! ” 

" Do you mean if each sin stamped upon 
the soul was manifest in a corresponding 
deformity of body?” 

"Yes, that is just what I mean.” 

" I had never thought of it ; but if this 
were possible there would be some shocking 
revelations.” 

" These doors would hardly open to me 
as they do now,” said Albert, about to enter 
the cottage. " I should be blacker than 
Kufus, with a form twisted out of all resem- 
blance to humanity.” 

" Don’t think of it. Think only of what 
you intend to be in the . future ; ” and di- 
rectly they were confronted with Charley, 
who complained of their long absence. 

This was the first in a series of visits to 
the shoemaker’s shop, which Kufus enjoyed 
quite as much as his visitors. They were a 
decided interruption to his work; but he 
could afford it, since what he lost in time 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


189 


was more than gained in knowledge, and 
true appreciation of himself. 

Mr. Wilson, as the guest was called by 
way of distinction, had come with the inten- 
tion of remaining but few days ; yet a week 
went by, and he seemed in no haste to leave. 
He was indulging in relaxation from study, 
previous to commencing the practice of med- 
icine, and found this a pleasant place. 

Understanding the peculiar temptations to 
which boys and young men are exposed, 
having himself met and conquered them, he 
was a wise counsellor for one who had 
weakly and wickedly yielded. 

It must not be supposed that it cost Albert 
no effort to forego the use of stimulants, 
even here. It was a continual struggle ; 
and sometimes, when appetite asserted its 
power, he was well-nigh ready to exclaim, 
"Let me drink and die, if only thus I may 
be rid of this horrid thirst ! ” 

But he could not remain here idly. 
The very necessities of his nature compelled 
him to activity. A visit to his father’s rela- 


190 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


tives was proposed ; and, after some deliber- 
ation, he decided to accompany his cdusin 
on his return home. 

Mira could not object to his going ; but 
the children were loud in their expressions 
of regret, — a regret which was shared by 
Aunt Dinah and her boys. 

" I thought you were going to stay 
always,” said Charley. 

" I hoped you would,” added Oily. 

" Tears like the whole family ’goin’, 
honey. Can’t hardly bear it. That boy 
now, he seems jes’ like my own ; and I’m 
’fraid for him. But the good Lord knows 
all ’bout him. Spect he can take care.” 

So talked the old friend and nurse, as 
she bustled about, making all possible ar- 
rangements for the comfort of those who 
were to leave. 

Mira, too, feared for her cousin. When 
again in the world, surrounded by the allure- 
ments of society, and the fascinations of 
what people are pleased to call "elegant 
pleasures,” he might forget the lessons he 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


191 


had learned, and the pledge he had signed, 
while on a bed of suffering. 

" It would be impossible for me to do 
this,” he exclaimed, in answer to an expres- 
sion of this fear. " I should not dare to do 
it,” he added. " Besides, I am to have my 
better self with me, who will allow no 
indulgence.” 

" I’ll pray for you, chile, jes long’s I 
live,” said Aunt Dinah, as she clasped his 
hand at parting. " ’Pears like I’ll know 
when you’se in trouble.” 


VIII. 


Oh, fearful truth ! 

We learn with tears; 
The sin of youth 
Again appears. 


" Honey, chile, somethin’s the matter with 
that boy. I see him last night with snakes 
all roun’ him ; and one was jes ’roun’ his neck 
like a rainbow. All colors, honey, jes like 
sunset.” 

"Why, auntie, what do you mean?” ex- 
claimed Mira Dempster. 

" Mean jes what I say, honey. ’Pears like 
I had a vision, and see that boy. He’s in 
trouble.” 

"That boy” was Albert Wilson; and he 
had been away nearly a month, when Aunt 
Dinah announced the vision. This was her 
morning greeting to Mira ; and a long conver- 
sation followed, in which she quaintly and 
minutely described what she had seen. 

192 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


193 


Albert Wilson was in a garden of flowers, 
where the very air seemed heavy with per- 
fume. This induced a delicious languor, and 
he reclined upon a grassy bank, mindful 
only of the beauty which surrounded him. 
He felt not the clasp of serpents, saw not 
the gleaming of their eyes. Rainbow hues 
mingled and faded away before his vision, but 
they were only a part of the outspread land- 
scape. 

Mira Dempster sought a natural cause for 
the dream of which she heard ; but her hum- 
ble friend accepted it as a direct revelation 
that Albert Wilson was in danger. 

" I got right up and kneeled down to pray,” 
said the good woman ; and the fact that she 
was oblivious to cold or fatigue proved how 
real seemed the danger. 

Three letters had been received from Al- 
bert, in each of which he spoke confidently 
of his future course, sure that he could never 
break his pledge. He was visiting friends 
who manifested the deepest interest in him, 
and spared no effort to make the time pass 


13 


194 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


pleasantly. His cousin kept constant guard, 
lest temptation might assail him. He had no 
opportunity for indulging in gloomy reveries 
or sad reviews of the past. The present was 
satisfying in its happiness. 

" You have yet to see our most charming 
cousin,” said his companion, one morning 
when they were discussing plans for the day. 
" I have delayed our visit to Uncle John until 
Etta should be at home. She returned day 
before yesterday, and we will go out there 
to-morrow. I must warn you beforehand 
that your good resolutions will be put to the 
test while there. Uncle John is one of those 
cool, calculating men who are in no particular 
danger of over-indulgence. He will offer 
you wine, and perhaps frown if you refuse 
it.” 

"That will make no difference,” was the 
reply. "I am bound to keep my pledge, 
though a dozen Uncle Johns should frown.” 

"Yes, I don’t imagine you will care much 
for frowns ; but the glass may be offered to 
you with smiles. Cousin Etta follows her 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


195 


father’s example, and sips wine at her own 
sweet will.” 

" I don’t like that,” responded Albert. 
" But to be forewarned is to be forearmed ; 
so I trust I shall pass the ordeal of both 
smiles and frowns.” 

The next morning the two cousins took the 
early train for Uncle John’s, the younger a 
little absent-minded, as he tried to picture to 
himself the family he should meet, and the 
welcome he would receive. 

Etta Payne was a sparkling brunette, 
with eyes black as sloes, and hair dark 
as a raven’s wing. Petite and graceful, 
dainty in her manners, and gleeful as some 
bright bird of song, no wonder that she 
was the idol of her parents and the pet of 
her friends. 

Such was the young girl to whom our hero 
was introduced, and from whom he received 
the most cordial of greetings. 

" Two cousins Albert ! ” she exclaimed. 
f 1 r How shall I distinguish one from the other ? 
I shall call you doctor,” she added, turning 


196 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


to him who had a claim to be thus addressed. 
"I don’t like that, because I know I shall 
grow afraid of you, just as soon as I begin 
to use it ; ” and here a low, rippling laugh filled 
all the room. 

" Fancy your being afraid of me,” was the 
reply. "Why, child, I have rocked you to 
sleep many a time. Do I look very formi- 
dable?” 

" Not very,” she replied, with a repetition 
of the musical laugh. "But then, doctors 
are always fearful creatures ; hard-hearted 
and cruel. Poor things ! perhaps they can’t 
help it. Any way, I dub you Dr. Wilson,” 
she added, reaching up to lay a delicate hand 
upon his shoulder. 

The hand was quickly imprisoned, and a 
playful war of words ensued, in which the 
doctor acknowledged that he was fairly driven 
from the field. 

Albert stood by, wondering if this "dar- 
ling girl” would ever treat him with like 
familiarity. He had entered the garden. 
Forewarned, he fancied himself forearmed. 


% aunt dinah’s pledge. 197 

It might he, but we often overrate our 
strength. ♦ 

Uncle John and his wife gave tlieir nephew 
a hearty welcome ; the former, somewhat 
stately in his manner, yet sincere and ear- 
nest. 

At dinner, wine was offered to the guests 
and refused, tlieir host making no effort to 
change their decision. Indeed, he seemed 
not to give it a moment’s thought, as he 
drained his own glass. Mrs. Payne, and Et- 
ta too, refused, and no comments were 
made. After dinner, cigars were offered and 
declined. 

" What a singular coincidence ! ” cried 
Etta. "I wonder if you two live by the 
same rule. Nearly every young man I 
know smokes, and the doctor used to.” 

"I plead guilty to the charge, cousin 
mine. But I found it was injuring me, so I 
gave it up. No more smoking for me ; I 
am better without it.” 

"And you, Cousin Albert,” she said, look- 
ing up to her new-found relative. 


198 aunt dinah's pledge. 

" I have been an inveterate smoker,” was 
the reply. " It is only a few months since 
I forswore the habit.” 

"Did the doctor make a convert of you? ” 

" I had never seen the doctor then ; at 
least, not this doctor.” 

Here the topic of conversation was changed. 
Doctor Wilson had carefully concealed all 
which might prejudice his friends against 
Albert, and he had no wish that the young 
man should himself make any revelation. 
He was reasonably sure that all would go 
well ; and during this visit especially, he 
proposed to act as guardian and Mentor. 

Unfortunately a despatch summoned him 
home, the third day of their visit. This was 
quite as long as they had intended to re- 
main ; but the younger cousin was too much 
pleased with his surroundings to think of 
leaving them so soon. 

" Not strange at all,” said the doctor. " I 
appreciate your feelings. But I must warn 
you against temptation. It may come in a 
way you least expect it. Pardon me,” he 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


199 


added, noting the flush upon his compan- 
ion’s face. 

"No need for asking pardon, old fellow. 
You are right; and perhaps I ought to go 
with you.” 

"No,” was the reply, as Dr. Wilson re- 
membered that this young man must meet 
and resist temptation for himself. He would, 
have said more ; but he saw that his com- 
panion was in no mood to listen. 

" Come back to-morrow,” said Etta, as 
they stood in the hall. "We will postpone 
our ride, if you will promise.” 

"I can’t promise,” answered her cousin. 
"I may be able to come, but it is too un- 
certain for any dependence. You will do 
well to improve the first pleasant day.” 

The next day was pleasant, the sleighing 
perfect, and there was no reason why the 
young people should delay their ride. Mrs. 
Payne promised to entertain Dr. Wilson, 
if he should return, — a promise which was. 
quite superfluous, since he never lacked the 
ability to entertain himself. Only twenty- 


200 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


five miles from home, the distance could be 
quickly passed, and he be there in season 
to join the sleighing party. 

It would have been better had he risen 
an hour earlier, and gone out in the morning 
train. He was impressed with this feeling, 
although he had not really intended to go 
out at all. As the day wore on, he grew 
restless, and decided to accept Etta’s in- 
vitation. 

The sunny morning was succeeded by a 
stormy evening. Dark, threatening clouds 
drifted athwart the sky. The cold became 
intense, and snow commenced to fall. 

Albert Wilson, with his Cousin Etta and 
a few others, drove to a neighboring town, 
intending to return somewhat late in the 
evening. The threatening weather, however, 
induced them to change their plans, and 
hasten a return. 

But they were not in season to escape the 
storm. It came upon them in its fury, and 
they reached home benumbed with cold. 

Mrs. Payne had been suffering with a 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


201 


headache, which made it necessary that 
she should retire at an early hour. Mr. 
Payne was away transacting some business ; 
so the cosey sitting-room had no inmates ex- 
cept those who rushed in from the storm. 

The sudden transition produced a 'greater 
effect upon the young man than upon his 
companion. The room seemed revolving 
like a huge wheel, and he became ghastly 
pale. 

Although suffering herself, Etta restrained 
her first impulse to call for assistance, not 
even summoning a servant to bring the wine 
she desired. 

Albert Wilson was hardly conscious when 
a glass was held to his lips, and a sweet 
voice bade him drink. 

God forgive Etta Payne, for she knew not 
what she did ! That very day, she had, in 
the presence of her friends, challenged him 
to drink with her, but he was able to resist. 
She playfully insisted, and yet he refused. 

He thought he would tell her all, dur- 
ing their homeward drive ; but something 


202 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


prevented. It might have beeii a feeling of 
false shame ; or it might have been an aver- 
sion to speak of a disagreeable subject. 
Certain it is that this young girl held the 
wine to his lips, with no thought of the 
wrong she was doing. 

He drank it eagerly, and then fell back 
upon the couch. She filled a glass for her- 
self, and sipped its contents. 

" Please to give me more,” said her cousin, 
reaching out his hand. " I am nearly 
frozen.” 

This was true ten minutes before ; but 
now the hot blood coursed through his veins 
like molten lava, mad with thirst. Unsus- 
pectingly the young girl complied wfith his 
request. He drank again. Then it was the 
demon had full possession of him. He put 
the bottle to his lips, and drained it of the 
last drop. 

Etta looked at him in surprise, wondering 
if this was a sudden frenzy, induced by cold 
and exposure. Gradually the truth dawned 
upon her. Her companion was intoxicated. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


203 


She had seen little of hard drinking ; hut she 
knew enough of its effects to comprehend 
this . What could she do ? 

Her father believed in the moderate use of 
wine ; but he was most bitter in his denun- 
ciations of those who were overcome by its 
influence. He must not see Albert in his 
present state, and she could not depend upon 
her mother. 

If only the doctor was there, he would 
know what to do. The doctor was there. 
Etta recognized his step, in the hall, and, 
springing past Albert, who sought to detain 
her, she sobbed out her trouble, while Dr. 
Wilson was divesting himself of overcoat 
and muffler. 

"I feared something of the kind,” he ex- 
claimed, involuntarily. "Trust him to me,” 
he added. " I can manage him, and no one 
else need know that this has happened.” 

No one else would know it from Etta; 
for, merry and thoughtless as she seemed to 
be, there was much of consideration in her 
wise little head. She forgot she was cold, 


204 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


and, creeping away by herself, sat looking out 
into the storm, shivering unconsciously. 

After the lapse of a few minutes there 
were uncertain steps on the stairs ; and she 
knew Albert was being assisted to his room. 
From her retreat she could hear the doctor 
speaking in low, decided tones. 

Then she went back to the fire, and, wrap- 
ping a shawl around her, lay down to think. 
Soon her thoughts became confused. She 
seemed sinking down into some unfathoma- 
ble depth, her brain giddy with the descent. 
When the doctor came back he found another 
needing his care. 

A few quick, convulsive gasps, a sudden 
quivering of the slight form, and conscious- 
ness returned. 

" Oh, such a dream as I have had ! ” whis- 
pered Etta, looking up into the manly face 
which bent over her. "It was dreadful.” 

Her companion knew well how to soothe 
her. He had been her confidant since she 
was a child. 

"Don’t try to talk until you are better,” 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


205 


he urged ; but finding that she must give 
expression to her feelings, he listened with- 
out further remonstrance, and, after a time, 
she regained her usual manner. 

When Mr. Payne came in, Dr. Wilson 
made such an explanation of his cousin’s 
absence as quite satisfied the gentleman. 

" It wasn’t strange that he should feel the 
cold more than this little girl, who was 
wrapped in furs from head to foot. He took 
the brunt of the storm ; and a pretty severe 
one it is too. He must have every atten- 
tion.” 

" Certainly, he must,” replied Etta. " The 
doctor came just in time. It is so nice to 
have a physician in the family ! ” she added, 
with a laugh. 

If ever one woke to shame and suffering, 
Albert Wilson did so the next morning. 
A distracting headache, and with it a dis- 
tracting sense of guilt. The events of the 
previous evening passed before him. De- 
spairing and reckless, he wished to leave his 
uncle’s at Once, and go, it mattered not 


206 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


where, only so that he could gratify his 
thirst for strong drink. " All over with me 
now,” he thought. "I have broken my 
pledge, and disgraced myself for life.” 

If he could get out of the house without 
being seen, he would go at once. But his 
cousin occupied another bed in the room 
with himself, and he could hardly expect to 
elude his vigilance. For the first time, he 
felt annoyed at the presence of this cousin. 

Mira Dempster had inferred from his let- 
ters that Dr. Wilson was a Christian ; and 
she had been correct in the inference. He 
was an earnest Christian ; yet zeal was tem- 
pered with knowledge. He never repelled 
where he sought to win. He believed relig- 
ion to be a crown , not a cross, and as such 
he always spoke of it. 

"No need of giving up the pleasures of 
life in order to be a Christian,” he would 
say. " Vices must be given up ; but no one 
is the happier for indulging in vice. The 
vicious are of all men most miserable.” 

Why was it that these words rang in the 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


207 


ear of Albert Wilson, making themselves 
heard above the clamorings of appetite ? 
His cousin seemed to be sleeping, while, in 
reality, he was praying. 

At the first movement which betrayed the 
wakefulness of his room-mate, the doctor 
arose and lighted a fire in the large, old- 
fashioned grate. Soon a cheerful blaze 
lighted up the, room, but not a word was 
spoken. 

At length, tiring of silence, and sure that 
Albert was awake, his cousin approached 
the bed and addressed him in the usual 
manner. 

"Is it time to get up?” asked Albert, 
after replying to the greeting. 

" I thought it time for me,” was the reply. 
" You had better indulge yourself in a little 
more sleep. I will make all necessary apol- 
ogies for you, and. Etta will gladly keep you 
company at a late breakfast.” 

"I never wish to see her again,” now 
exclaimed the young man. "Why don’t 
you tell her what a wretch I am? Don’t 


208 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


you despise me ? ” he asked, in the same 
breath. 

"Of course I don’t. On the whole, I 
believe I never had quite so much true 
regard for you as at this present mo- 
ment.” 

"But I’ve broken my pledge ; gone back 
into the depths, and sealed my ruin,” cried 
Albert T with an excited voice. "Hasn’t any- 
body told you ? ” 

" I know all about it ; but there is no need 
of making it appear worse than it is,” was 
the quiet reply. " You were chilled, and Et- 
ta gave you wine, without knowing that she 
was doing you an injury. You could hardly 
be considered accountable in such a state as 
you then were.” 

" But I drank afterwards ; I am sure that 
I did ! ” he added, pressing his hands upon 
his head, as though to still its wild throb- 
bing. "I have only a confused idea of 
what happened ; but it must have been bad 
enough.” 

"Don’t think of it.” 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


209 


"But I must. I ought to think of it; 
and I couldn’t help doing so if I would. I 
am weak now ; I have lost the power of re- 
sistance, and should yield again if tempted. 

I am afraid I shall do even worse than 
that.” 

" Oh, no ! Let us have no more such talk,” 
said Dr. Wilson. "Your head isn’t quite 
right this morning ; you need rest, and I 
can give you something which will help you 
to get it.” 

Going to his valise, he took from it a vial, 
and, dropping some of its contents into a 
glass partly filled with water, gave it to his * 
cousin. 

"It will do you good,” he said. "Now 
don’t torture yourself with regrets, When 
you are better we will talk the matter all 
over. Until then rest in the certainty that 
you can redeem the past, Etta will never 
betray you.” 

" I intended to tell her all about myself 
when we were coming home last evening; 
but I didn’t.” 

14 


210 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


" She knows all that is necessary. I took 
the liberty to tell her. Was I right in doing 
so?” 

" You are always right.” 

" Not always ; but in this case I think I did 
what was best.” 

Much solicitude was expressed in regard 
to Albert that morning, and in response Dr. 
Wilson acknowledged that he was the worse 
for having drunk wine. Mr. Payne de- 
murred at this, ridiculing the idea that a glass 
of wine would injure any one. 

" But Albert can never drink without in- 
jury,” said the doctor. "He has tried it, 
and is convinced that there is nothing but 
total abstinence for him.” 

" He was the only young man who refused 
wine at dinner yesterday,” said Etta, joining 
in the conversation. "I asked him to drink 
with me, and I ridiculed him for refusing. I 
gave him wine last night ; but I wouldn’t do 
it again, under any circumstances ; and I 
never will ask another young man to drink 
with me so long as I live.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


211 


"You may regret that promise,” remarked 
her father, coolly. 

"I don’t think there is any danger,” she 
replied. "But if I do, I will keep it all the 
same.” 

" You are making a serious matter of it,” 
said her father, looking at her admiringly. 
" You always manage to get up more enthu- 
siasm than any one else.” 

Thus what threatened to be a disgraceful 
expose of Albert Wilson’s unfortunate career 
of dissipation was passed over easily, with- 
out in any way compromising the truth. 

"We shall consider our new cousin as 
your especial charge while he keeps his 
room,” said Mrs. Payne to her favorite 
nephew. 

"I presume the doctor rejoices in an op- 
portunity to try his skill,” remarked Etta, 
with a laugh. "This may be his first 
case.” 

First case or second, it certainly was one 
in which he felt a deep interest, — far deeper 
than any one present suspected. Everything 


212 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


depended upon its treatment ; more than life 
or happiness was at stake. 

Albert slept so soundly that he neither saw 
nor heard his cousin ; yet the fire was re- 
plenished from time to time, and the room put 
in order. 

The second waking was more tolerable 
than the first. The cloud had lifted, and 
hope was in the ascendant. But he had 
looked back, and he must pay the penalty. 
Cousin Mi, Aunt Dinah, black Rufus, and 
Edgar must all know this. 

Perhaps it was strange it should be so ; 
but of all these he dreaded most to lose the 
good opinion of his deformed friend. So 
good himself, so far removed .from tempta- 
tion, would he have charity for one who* had 
weakly yielded to sin? 

In the midst of these reflections it occurred 
to Albert that it must be past noon, and it 
would be well for him to throw off his drow- 
siness. He was nearly dressed, when his 
cousin appeared, cheerful and social. 

"I thought I would see if there was any 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


213 


prospect of having your company at the din- 
ner-table.” 

”1 shall be there, sure,” was the reply. 
"I am just about famished.” 

"An excellent symptom in your case,” 
remarked the doctor. "I am glad to hear 
it ; and, judging from the preparations I have 
seen, there will be sufficient to satisfy you.” 

He wished to say something about wine, 
which was sure to be upon the table, and was 
considering how he should introduce the sub- 
ject, when Albert spoke of it in such a way 
as to banish his fears. 

Etta made sure of an opportunity to ex- 
press her sympathy and regrets ; but, when 
seated at the table, she chattered as merrily 
as though no serious thought had ever troubled 
her. 

"Now, father, put your wine just as far 
from us as possible. Cousin Albert and I 
are not to be tempted any more. When we 
are frozen again we shall call for hot coffee 
and sandwiches.” 

" A good exchange,” responded the doctor, 


214 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


as his little cousin closed her remarks with 
the usual rippling laugh. 

After dinner, Etta Payne and Albert Wil- 
son held a long, earnest conversation, in 
which he found courage to tell her what she 
should have known the day before. 

" I must have been rude to you last even- 
ing,” he said in conclusion. " Grant me your 
pardon for that, and I will promise never to 
offend again.” 

"The pardon is granted,” she replied, 
while a faint blush mantled her cheek. "I 
was more in fault than you, and I wish to 
ask your forgiveness.” 

" Never ask my forgiveness ! ” he ex- 
claimed, impulsively. " If I had been what 
I should be — ” 

"No more disparagement of yourself,” in- 
terrupted Etta, playfully. " Henceforth I 
hold you bound to say only good of my 
cousin ; ” and she extended her hand in token 
of friendship. 

Dr. Wilson had been anxious that his 
cousin should not make too serious a matter 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


215 


of this fall ; but he was equally anxious that 
a salutary lesson should be learned from it. 
That night, after going to their room, he 
took occasion to make some remark, which 
led to a free interchange of opinions and 
feelings. 

" I know that I have done a terrible thing,” 
said Albert. " It will take me a long time 
to get back where I was forty-eight hours 
ago ; but, thanks to you, I shall try it.” 

After this, both sat looking into the fire, 
with that fixedness of gaze which betrays a 
preoccupied mind. Dr. Wilson, unwilling 
to disturb a current of thought which might 
lead to wiser resolves, waited for his com- 
panion to speak. 

> At length, the younger said, "I’ve been 
thinking upon a subject, which, perhaps, 
your superior knowledge may help me to 
understand.” 

"My knowledge may not be so superior 
as you imagine ; but, such as it is, you are 
welcome to share it.” 

"Well, then, for the question: Why do 


216 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


men and boys indulge in habits which they 
would condemn in their daughters and sis- 
ters ? That may be a queer question for me 
to ask, but it has puzzled me greatly.” 

This same question had occurred to the 
doctor, as it certainly has to all who seek to 
solve the great problem of human society. 
But he was surprised that it should be 
asked then and there. Indeed, he was 
often surprised by his cousin, who seemed a 
combination of opposing elements. A gen- 
erous and affectionate nature had been sadly 
warped by a career of dissipation ; and yet 
it retained much of its original nobility. 
Something of a philosopher, too, was Albert 
Wilson, despite his career of recklessness. 

" My knowledge is utterly at fault here,” 
was the reply he received. " I don’t know 
why a man should swear, when he would 
condemn a woman for uttering an oath, and 
I certainly know of no reason why he who 
finds pleasure in the use of tobacco should 
be unwilling that his wife and sisters should 
share the pleasure.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


217 


* " Guess you are a little beyond your reck- 

oning there, old fellow,” exclaimed Albert, 
with a quizzical smile. " Just think of going 
home, to find all the women of the family 
engaged in the delightful occupation of 
chewing tobacco ! Bah ! ” he added, with 
an expression of extreme disgust. " The 
bar-room of a groggery would be paradise 
to such a home as that.” 

" I don't know about it. I should condemn 
both the bar-room and the home ; but, if 
there is any real good to be derived from the 
use of tobacco, why not give women the 
benefit of it ? But perhaps you think smok- 
ing less objectionable than chewing.” 

"I do. It is less filthy. Yet I never 
could stand seeing a woman smoke. Just 
fancy a group of pretty, sweet little girls, 
ten or twelve years of age, trying to get 
accustomed to the taste and smoke of 
cigars.” 

"It would be a most disgusting sight,” 
was the answer. " But I have a distinct 
remembrance of a like scene, in which boys 


218 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


were the actors. There was nothing very- 
attractive about that. But smoking was a 
manly habit, and must be learned. So we 
puffed away, until head and stomach refused 
longer to endure the torture . n 

" That’s the way it ’s done . Hard work and 
poor wages. I tell you, though, if all the 
women had Aunt Dinah’s hatred of tobacco, 
there would be a revolution in the habits 
of men.” 

" A revolution for which we should most 
devoutly pray. Banish tobacco, and intoxi- 
cating liquors will soon follow. Smoking 
and chewing make way for drinking. They 
induce a thirst which water cannnot sat- 
isfy.” 

"I know the truth of that by experience,” 
said Albert, with emphasis'. 

It was long past midnight ere these cous- 
ins retired to rest. So much was to be 
said, so many plans considered, that there 
was no thought of sleep until the old clock 
in the hall struck two. 

" Not another word ! ” then exclaimed the 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


219 


doctor. " You need sleep, and I shall he 
none the worse for it.” 

"I need some other things more than I 
need sleep,” was the reply. "I can sleep 
when away from you.” 

Notwithstanding their late vigils, they 
were at the breakfast table, professing to 
have slept well. 

This was the last day of their visit. Dr. 
Wilson had made arrangements for opening 
an office the following week, and his 
" worser-self,” as the younger cousin said, 
was beginning to feel the necessity of engag- 
ing in some business. He had been idle for 
several months, and it was time to "turn 
over a new leaf.” 

A situation had been offered him by a 
friend of his father, and he was inclined to 
accept it. How far his guardian could or 
would interfere remained to be seen. He 
had been allowed to spend money freely, with- 
out giving account for the same ; but, in 
answer to his last application, some advice 
had been volunteered, which he had deemed 


220 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


to be as inappropriate as it was unneces- 
sary. 

Hiram Dempster still urged the return of 
his ward to the position he had formerly 
occupied, and it seemed best that his demands 
should be answered in person. Dr. Wilson 
would accompany his cousin, if the trip was 
made at once. 

Uncle John and his wife, with their charm- 
ing daughter, all protested that the visit had 
been quite too short ; yet, if short, it had 
been eventful. 

Etta Payne had not only decided never to 
ask any one to drink wine with her, but she 
had also decided never to drink wine herself. 
" I never thought about it before,” she said 
to the doctor. "I supposed, of course, 
father was right ; but I see now that it is all 
wrong.” 

She whispered the same to Albert, making 
him happy by the assurance that she should 
ever feel an interest in his welfare. "If you 
go wrong, I shall consider myself in some 
way responsible for it,” she said. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


221 


"If I go wrong, it will be entirely my 
own fault,” was the reply ; and more might 
have been added, but at that moment the 
doctor exclaimed, "Time is up,” and with 
hasty adieus they separated. 

" Two fine young men,” said Mr. Payne. 
" I remember of hearing that Albert, junior, 
was inclined to be rather reckless ; but there 
is no appearance of it now. He seems like 
a very fine young man.” 

The future would determine whether this 
seeming was a reality. 


IX. 


Rowing up the stream, 

With a goal in view; 

Never time to dream, 

Only time to do; 

Never off his guard, 

None his course retard. 

Hiram Dempster was greatly annoyed by 
the presence of two young gentlemen, when 
he had expected but one . Albert had written 
of his coming, but purposely avoided men- 
tioning a companion. 

They arrived just in season for dinner, so 
that at the outset there was an opportunity 
for the test of principle. Wine was refused 
without any display of feeling, and all 
expressions of surprise were parried lightly. 

" You are looking well,” said Mr. Demp- 
ster to his nephew. " I presume you have 
entirely recovered from the effects of your 
unfortunate ride.” 


222 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


223 


" Quite recovered from my injuries ; but I 
am getting to think that ride the most for- 
tunate one of my life,” replied Albert, 
wishing at once to introduce the subject 
which he knew his guardian would seek to 
avoid. " The long confinement which fol- 
lowed was a real blessing.” 

" The blessing came in disguise,” responded 
Mr. Dempster. 

"But the disguise was soon torn off. I 
was obliged to think, and it was impossible 
not to think seriously in such a condi- 
tion.” 

" You are welcome to your own ideas of 
that,” said Mr. Dempster, impatiently. "I 
have no time to waste. I want to know 
what I may expect of you for the next 
year.” 

"Nothing,” was the laconic answer. 

"Nothing!” repeated the gentleman, in a 
tone of angry surprise. "You must know 
that I have a right to demand something of 
you ; you were placed under my care until 
you should become of age.” 


224 


aunt Dinah's pledge. 


"Yes, sir, and perhaps it would be well 
for me to ask what you desire.” 

Off his guard again ! Hiram Dempster 
was angry with himself for having spoken 
hastily. 

"I need you in the store,” he said. "I 
was willing you should go through college, 
and study a profession ; but you preferred a 
more active life.” 

" I still prefer it. I intend to be a mer- 
chant, and wish to commence in the business 
I am to follow.” 

"What is that?” 

In reply, Albert told, him of the situation 
which had been offered. 

" Our firm will do better by you than that,” 
said his guardian. "You can make your 
fortune in a few years.” 

" But I have told you that I shall never 
enter that store again in the way of business. 
You can’t have forgotten it.” 

"I never charge my memory with such 
boyish speeches,” was the sneering re- 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


225 


Albert Wilson’s eyes flashed, and an oath 
trembled on his lips ; but with a mighty 
effort he controlled himself. " It may have 
been a boyish speech,” he said. "It was 
made by a boy ; yet boys sometimes have the 
decision of men. Do you wish me to repeat 
it?” 

" It makes no difference to me whether it 
is repeated or not. We seem to be playing 
at cross-purposes.” 

"It don’t seem so to me. I am sure I 
understand you, and I think you must under- 
stand me. You wish me to enter your store 
in some capacity ; and this I am determined 
never to do.” 

"Then I don’t see that we have anything 
further to do with each other. You refuse 
to be governed by my wishes, and I have 
no desire to enforce them by commands.” 

" I suppose there myst be a settlement be- 
tween us in about a year from this time,” 
said Albert. 

" I shall be ready for the settlement,” was 
the quick reply. " I suppose in future you 


226 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


will not wish to consider my home as 
yours.” 

"You must decide that,” answered the 
young man, with an undertone of sadness in 
his voice. "I love the children, and would 
gladly save Charley from the experience I 
have known.” 

A sudden change passed over the father’s 
face. Love for Charley was his vulnerable 
point. He loved his daughters ; but he did 
not fear for them as for his son. Whatever 
he was himself, he wished Charley to be an 
honorable, upright man. The thought that 
his child, now pure and innocent, should ever 
become vile and wretched, moved this wicked 
man strangely. 

For the moment he felt something like 
regret and remorse ; but he would express 
neither. If he had accumulated the fortune 
he desired, he could afford to give up his 
nefarious traffic ; but, under the circum- 
stances, he must go on. 

He remembered, however, that it might 
be for his interest to preserve an outward 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


227 


show of friendship for his ward, and gov- 
erned himself accordingly. Having been 
foiled at every step, he decided to yield with 
as good grace as possible. A shallow apol- 
ogy was received in the same spirit it was 
made, Albert Wilson wishing to retain the 
privilege of visiting his cousins at pleasure. 

The doctor, not having been present at 
this interview, knew little of what transpired. 
During the remainder of their stay in the city' 
nothing more was said in regard to business, 
and the time passed not unpleasantly. 

Albert’s old associates assailed him with 
ridicule ; but their shafts fell powerless. 

" It’s all that doctor’s doings,” said one. 
"If we could get A1 out from under his 
thumb he would be as good a fellow as 
ever.” 

"Don’t know about that,” said another. 
"ITe has quit the governor, store, and all. 
Guess there is something more in it than we 
can see.” 

* These are only specimens of the remarks 
made ; but Albert went his way regardless 


228 


AUNT DINAH’S. PLEDGE. 


of them all ; making no explanation of his 
conduct, other then to assert his determina- 
tion to persevere in his present course of 
abstinence. 

" I think I must see Cousin Mi and Aunt 
Dinah before I settle down to business,” he 
said, when speaking of the future. " Some 
way, I don’t feel satisfied with only writing 
to them. What say, old fellow, will you go 
with me, or shall we part here?” 

"I shall go with you,” was Dr. Wilson’s 
reply. " I ought to be at home, but — ” 

"I understand,” responded Albert. " You 
are sure of a welcome as I am myself. 1 * We 
shall take them all by surprise ; ” and, with 
boyish impatience, he set about making prep- 
arations to leave. 

He parted from his guardian civilly, who, 
knowing his destination, sent a box of delica- 
cies to the children. 

Aunt Dinah’s dream had a depressing 
effect, not only upon herself, but upon Mira 
and Rufus. Edgar, who now shared his" 
mother’s confidence, was disposed to consider 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


229 


it a proof of some physical derangement, 
rather than a vision from the Lord. Mira 
and Rufus had no faith in dreams ; but, being 
anxious in regard to Albert, they could not 
forget what had been told them. 

Great, then, was the surprise and joy 
when the two cousins made their appearance. 
The children shouted with delight ; Aunt 
Dinah, who, through the moonlight caught a 
glimpse of the young men, came in without 
ceremony. 

"O chile, thank the good Lord for this ! ” 
she exclaimed, clasping Albert’s hands. " I’se 
been troubled ’bout you, chile.” 

" No need of that,” was the reply. " I am 
all right, only terrible hungry.” 

" Spect you may be, chile. I’ll see about 
supper.” 

Dr. Wilson stood by, smiling at the hearty 
manners of this good woman, and waiting 
until it should be her pleasure to address 
him. 

" You are welcome, sir,” she said, at 
length, as she turned to the kitchen. But 


230 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


he was not satisfied. He wished for something 
more than this short, ceremonious speech, 
and claimed it in such a way as made Aunt 
Dinah’s face perfectly radiant with joy. 
" Spect I am glad to see you, sir,” she said, 
in answer to his question. 

Supper was soon ready, and received the 
praise it deserved. "Delicious coffee, hot 
muffins, and tongue. You must have had a 
presentiment of our coming,” said Albert. 

" Spect I was thinkin’ ’bout you,” an- 
swered the gratified woman. 

Supper over, Albert wished to see Eufus 
and Edgar; but Dr. Wilson chose to post- 
pone his visit until morning. 

The brothers felt complimented by so 
early a call ; and naturally there was much 
to be said. 

Edgar was progressing in his studies and 
in his regard for Miss Marvin. She not 
only taught him how to study ; but she also 
taught him how to read, and make the most 
of all his advantages. 

"I can’t tell what I shall do,” he said, in 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


231 


reply to a question asked by Albert. "I 
mean* to know as much as I can, and then 
make the best possible use of my knowl- 
edge.” 

" That’s the way, old fellow,” was the 
hearty response. " There’s my hand to your 
success, and if ever I can help you, remem- 
ber I shall be glad to do it. I shall be in 
business some time for myself, and then we 
will see what can be done for you.” 

Edgar began to express his thanks for this 
manifestation of interest, but was quickly 
interrupted. 

'^Do you remember what you did for me 
last fall?” exclaimed Albert. "Lifting me 
as though I had been a baby ! Do you sup- 
pose I shall ever forget that ? I only hope I 
shall be able to give you a lift some time. 
It is of no use to put off a bad job,” he said, 
after some further conversation. "I want 
you to know how I have made out keeping 
my pledge.” 

"We can judge of that by your looks,” 
answered Rufus, with a smile. 


232 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


"Looks are deceitful, as you will find, 
when I tell you that I have been drunk 
since I saw you before. There, I knew just 
how you would look when you heard it,” he 
added, as a strangely sad expression came 
over the faces of his companions. "I might 
have kept it to myself and never have told 
you ; but I wanted you to know. I thought 
I should feel better, and I am sure I can 
trust you not to expose me. I have repented 
of it ; yet it was a severe lesson.” 

The question, "How did it happen?” 
trembled on the lips of the brothers ; but an 
instinctive delicacy forbade their speaking. 
Albert, however, told the story, and two 
long-drawn breaths testified to the relief of 
the listeners. "I don’t see that you were 
to blame,” said Rufus. "You were not re- 
sponsible for drinking under such circum- 
stances.” 

"I am glad to hear you say so,” was the 
reply. " The responsibility lay back of that. 
You can take wine as a medicine, and it may 
do you good ; but I can never taste it with 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


233 


safety. It would be better for me to die 
than run the risk. If it hadn't been for 
my cousin I should have gone straight back 
to rum and ruin.” 

" Thank the Lord that you didn’t,” cried 
Rufus, with streaming eyes. 

"I have thanked him,” replied the young 
man. " I do thank him every day of my 
life, and I ask him for strength to persevere 
to the end,” he added, in a lower tone. 

Edgar was wondering why this confession 
was made, and thinking that he would never 
have acknowledged such a fall. 

"What is it?” asked Albert. "You look 
as though you had something to say.” 

" What made you tell us ? I shouldn’t, if 
I’d been in your place.” 

"If I hadn’t, you would never have sus- 
pected it, I know you wouldn’t; but some 
way I wanted to tell you. It would have 
seemed like trying to deceive you, if I had 
kept silent. Moreover, I shall feel stronger 
for having talked about it. I know I can 
trust you.” 


234 


AUNT DINAH S PLEDGE. 


Kufus had no words to answer this re- 
mark ; hut the strong grasp of his hand gave 
assurance that this confidence was not mis- 
placed. 

Edgar said, "Trust me thrQugh thick and 
thin. I am not given to reporting family 
matters. Mother has trained me better than 
that.” 

"Better than what?” asked Aunt Dinah, 
who entered the kitchen in time to hear this 
closing sentence. 

"Better than to tell all I know,” was the 
reply. 

" I will tell you all about it,” said Albert. 
" Did you know I had been in trouble while 
I was gone? You said you should know, 
and pray for me.” 

"I spected you was in trouble, chile.” 

"Mother had a dream,” interrupted Edgar. 

"’Peared like ’twas a vision, boy. Tell 
me ’bout the trouble,” she added, looking 
earnestly at Albert. 

He told her in as few words as possible. 

" Bless de Lord ! ’Twan’t nothin’ very bad 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


235 


Not half’s bad’s I spected.” Thus Aunt Di- 
nah expressed her relief. " ’Twan’t no 
blame for you. Wine’s counted good for 
freezin’. That chile, Etta, didn’t mean no 
harm neither.” 

"But I broke my pledge.” 

" Yes, chile ; but ’twan’t wilful breakin’. 
Spect you’ll keep it now.” 

"I hope so,” replied Albert. "Yet I 
would give every dollar I am worth, if I 
had never acquired the habits of smoking 
and drinking.” 

A short, low whistle expressed Edgar’s 
ideas of this. 

"I suppose you think that would be a 
large price to pay for nothing,” remarked 
his friend. 

" I should think it was. Any way, if I 
had the money, I shouldn’t let it go so easy.” 

"Money, boy!” exclaimed Aunt Dinah. 
"Don’t talk ’bout money that way. ’Pears 
like it’s a snare of the devil.” 

"You are right, auntie, and I wish it was 
the only snare he puts in the way of poor 


236 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


mortals. But it isn’t. I’ve had both feet in 
several of his snares, and know more about 
them than I wish I did.” 

Aunt Dinah had many inquiries to make, 
and Albert was quite willing to answer her 
questions. She had earned the right to ask 
them. 

" I’se glad,” she said, with a nod of appro- 
bation , when he had given her an outline of 
his plans, so far as they were matured. 
"I’se thankful,” she added, with emphasis. 
" ’Pears like your mother knows all ’bout 
this.” 

"I hope she does,” responded Albert, and 
then fell to musing in a way he always did 
when recalling the teachings of his mother. 
Not long after, he bade his friends good- 
night and went home. 

" The children were very sorry not to see 
you again before they went to bed,” said 
Mira, after his return. 

"I had no intention of staying away so 
long; but we kept talking, and the time 
passed quickly. Moreover, I shouldn’t have 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


237 


supposed there was much danger of my 
beiug missed.” 

"You have been missed,” responded the 
doctor. " Charley asked Aunt Dinah to send 
you home, because he needed you more than 
she did.” 

This was very different from the old time, 
when his step thrilled Mira’s heart with fear, 
and the children had been glad to escape 
from his presence. In a long conversation, 
the following morning, this change was men- 
tioned with expressions of gratitude and 
pleasure. 

"I hated myself for being so hateful to 
you,” said Albert. "Some evil spirit must 
have possessed me, or I should never have 
done as I did.” 

"Aunt Dinah’s pledge exorcised the evil 
spirit,” replied Mira. 

"I thought so, but — ” and here followed 
a repetition of the confession he had made 
the previous evening. 

It was passed over lightly, much to the 
relief of the young man, who congratulated 


238 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


himself that he need never again mention the 
humiliating circumstance. 

" Forget it,” said Mira. " It was unfortu- 
nate, yet not sinful.” 

" I wish I could see it in that light,” was 
the reply. "But I can’t divest myself of the 
feeling that I was responsible. I hope and 
pray such an event may never occur again. 
I learned my weakness.” 

" God gives strength to those who ask him.” 

As Mira said this, Albert Wilson clasped 
her hands, exclaiming, "You have been my 
good angel, dear cousin. There has been a 
heavy burden upon you, but I will help to 
carry it in future. Charley shall be my 
especial care.” 

" My father ! ” sighed the young girl. 

A flush mantled the cheek of her compan- 
ion. 

"I can do nothing for him,” was the reply. 

"i wish I could atone for his sins,” said 
this self-sacrificing daughter. "I know he 
has done wrong by you, but I could noc 
help it.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


239 


Albert did not wish to talk of this, and, 
playfully closing her mouth, began to speak 
of other things. 

Only one day, and that so short ! Then 
the cottage was left to its usual inmates ; 
but there lingered a crowd of pleasant memo- 
ries and bright hopes. 

The interpretation of Aunt Dinah’s dream 
had been declared, and she was ready for a 
new revelation. Castle-building was no 
part of her regular occupation ; but she 
found time for the construction of one 
w T hich seemed to her of fair proportions, 
although it was located in the land of shad- 
ows. 

Long and frequent* letters were received 
from Albert, who was satisfied with his 
business, and looked eagerly forward to the 
time when he should "set up for himself.” 
He was among relatives, to whose homes he 
was ever welcome ; yet he often missed the 
excitement to which he had been so long 
accustomed. Each day suffering some part 
of the penalty which sin is sure to inflict, he 


240 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


felt more and more the need of divine for- 
giveness and assistance. 

Meanwhile, Hiram Dempster had accepted 
the fact that the property of his ward must 
be given up to its rightful owner, and he 
made a careful estimate of its amount. He 
did this, too, with less reluctance than he 
would once have thought possible. In some 
way he seemed to be doing it for Charley. 

As the last year of Albert Wilson’s minor- 
ity was marked by few striking incidents, 
we will not linger over it. More than the 
ordinary amount of business was transacted 
by the firm of which his guardian was a 
member, and the profits were much larger 
than usual. 

" A good year,” said the liquor-dealer to 
himself, and was ready to meet his ward at 
the appointed time. 

Much to Albert’s surprise there was no 
attempt to deal dishonestly. A fair state- 
ment was made, papers submitted, certifi- 
cates of stock given, and money paid. 
The necessary documents were signed, and 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


241 


Albert knew how much he could call his 
own. 

Not a large fortune ; but yet enough to 
give him a fair start in the world. Enough, 
if he made good use of it ; quite too much if 
spent in dissipation, to which he was not 
now inclined. 

In anticipation of this time, and in con- 
sideration of rare business talents, his em- 
ployer had proposed to take him as partner. 
This being what he desired, his whole prop- 
erty was at once invested. 

" The best thing which ever happened to 
you,” said Dr. Wilson, in offering his con- 
gratulations. 

"You are mistaken there,” was the reply. 
" Signing Aunt Dinah’s pledge was the best 
thing, and this is one of the consequences. 
I have nothing to do now but work and 
rejoice.” 

Soon after this he made a short visit to 
his cousins. 

" So your business with father is com- 
pleted,” said Mira, after he had given her an 
16 


242 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


account of the settlement. " I have felt very 
anxious about it.” 

"No more cause for anxiety ; I am entirely 
satisfied. ” 

Albert Wilson made this assertion ; but it 
is doubtful if Hiram Dempster could have 
echoed it. He certainly could not in some 
conditions ; yet he was glad that the business 
was finally settled » 

There was now no disguising the fact that 
he was a hard-drinker. Even when with his 
children, he managed to indulge his love of 
liquor. This was not done openly, yet his 
daughter knew, and so did Aunt Dinah, with 
her boys. Mira once attempted to remon- 
strate, but she was unfortunate in her choice 
of time, and met a harsh repulse. He refused 
to listen, bidding her go about her own busi- 
ness. 

It seemed to her that this was her busi- 
ness, caring for others, and seeking to re- 
strain them from evil. As ever, Aunt Dinah 
shared her troubles, and helped her to bear 
them. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


243 


*' Jes tell the good Lord, and he’ll see 
’bout it. That boy’s saved, and there don’t 
nothin’ now seem hard tome. Ispectgreat 
things, and ’pears like they’ll come.” 

Oily and Charley both noticed the change 
in their father’s looks. 

" What makes your cheeks so red and fat ? ” 
asked Charley one day, while caressing with 
his dimpled hand the coarse, bloated face. 

" I don’t know what does make them so,” 
was the reply ; but the deepened color of these 
same red cheeks bore testimony to its un- 
truth. 

Much to the father’s annoyance this sub- 
ject was pursued, until Mira called Charley 
intp another room. Hiram Dempster then 
rose from his chair, and stood before the mir- 
ror. He had prided himself upon his fine 
face and figure ; small reason was there for 
this now, as he reluctantly acknowledged. 
But then, his purse was plethoric, and that 
would ofiset against many disadvantages. 

Aunt Dinah would "jes hated that bad man,” 
if it had not been against her creed to hate 


244 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


any one. As it was, she avoided him as much 
as possible. 

Albert Wilson’s visit was made the week 
following that of his uncle ; and although 
Mira could not bring herself to speak directly 
of her father’s condition, he was at no loss to 
account for her pale, sad face. 

Dinah Freeman had no scruples, and ex- 
pressed her ideas with characteristic plain- 
ness. " His money’ll go. Tell you that, chile. 
He won’t ’scape punishment. Hope some 
body’ll take honey way from him ; but there’s 
the children. Don’t know nothin’ what’ll 
come of them. I’ll do jes long’s I can ; but 
them children needs more’n me.” 

" They can’t go far wrong, while with you,” 
replied Albert ; "Mira can manage Oily.” 

"Yes, chile, I know ’bout her.” 

" I know that the trouble will be with Char- 
ley ; but we must hope for the best. Trust 
the good Lord, and keep praying.” 

That she should have lived to hear this from 
the once reckless boy ! It was more than Aunt 
Dinah could bear with calmness. Tears 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


245 


streamed down her cheeks, as she sobbed forth 
her gratitude. 

" I spect great things now,” she said. 
" Nothin’s too hard.” 

It did seem so ; for never was greater change 
than had been wrought in the character and 
habits of this young man. Without presum- 
ing to consider himself a Christian, he was 
really actuated by Christian principles ; and, 
mindful that many precious hours had run to 
waste, he applied himself with diligence to 
the duties before him. 

Mira Dempster found in him a sympathiz- 
ing friend, who, engaged in active pursuits, 
looked upon the world hopefully, and inspired 
her with something of his own cheerful spirit. 

"Prove the sincerity of your repentance 
by good works,” Dr. Wilson had said to him ; 
and he obeyed the injunction. With Charley 
he enforced the teachings of Sister Mi, assur- 
ing the child that she knew just what would 
make him a good man. 

Here he would gladly have lingered, but 
business demanded attention. Then, there 


246 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


was Uncle John to he visited, or, rather, Uncle 
John’s charming daughter, who retained her 
interest in Cousin Albert. She, also, held 
fast to the resolution never to drink wine, 
although many attempts had been made to 
change her purpose. 

"Joined the teetotalers? ” asked one gen- 
tleman, who was a frequent guest at her 
father’s, and felt himself privileged. 

" Yes , ” was the reply. " I have joined them , 
and intend to be a working member of the 
order.” 

"Then I suppose you have a pledge, duly 
signed, and handsomely framed.” 

"I have never signed a pledge,” said the 
young lady. "I shall do so, however, the 
first opportunity,” she added, her face light- 
ing up with enthusiasm. 

" You might do good service by presenting 
the pledge to your friends. They would find 
it difficult to resist your pleadings.” 

" I should present it first to father, and see 
what influence I have at home.” 

" He could hardly refuse you. I certainly 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


247 


hope you will not put me to the test. I 
should give up the wine ; but I choose to 
drink it, and still receive your smiles.” 

Gallant speeches, which Etta Payne prized 
at their true value ; yet they suggested a 
train of thought which might lead to action 
in the future. 

Albert Wilson had no secrets from her now. 
It might seem strange to one not versed in 
human nature, that she, with her inexperience, 
could give him just the counsel and encour- 
agement he needed. But such was the case. 
She held the wine-cup to his lips ; but she 
had long ago made amends for that mistake. 

" I wish you and Cousin Mi could meet,” 
said Albert. " £>he has been like a sister to 
me, and a darling sister too.” 

"Bring her to see me,” replied Etta. "I 
have heard so much of her, that I am sure I 
should recognize her at sight; and I know 
I should love her.” 

"Everybody who knows her loves her,” 
responded the young man. " I hope she will 
one day find her true place in the world, 


248 aunt dinah’s pledge. 

where she can be as happy as she deserves 
to be.” 

Mr. and Mrs. Payne had known Mira 
Dempster while she lived with their brother, 
and Etta expressed a wish that she would 
visit them. 

Mira had her circle of friends, whose hos- 
pitalities she received and returned ; but she 
seldom went from home to be absent more 
than a few hours. She felt herself bound to 
the children, and consulted their interests 
before her own. 

Knowing this, Albert had some misgivings 
as to the success of her plan ; but he wrote at 
once, inviting her to visit his relatives, who 
remembered her as a child, and would gladly 
renew the acquaintance. 

" That’s it, honey,” exclaimed Aunt Dinah, 
when the letter was read to her. " ’Pears 
like it’s jes what you need. TO take care 
them children. Won’t nothin’ happen to ’em.” 

" But I can’t go, auntie. Father wouldn’t 
be willing that I should,” said Mira. 

He was not willing. Albert Wilson’s rela- 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


249 


tives were the last persons he would have 
wished his daughter to visit. But, on the 
other hand, he was not quite ready to refuse 
her request. She had devoted herself so 
cheerfully to the care of her brother and sis- 
ter, and, in doing this, been debarred from 
so many pleasures, that he could hardly find 
it in his heart to deny her this gratification. 

So he wrote he would think the matter 
over, and tell her his decision when he saw 
her. 

" I had better give up all thoughts of go- 
ing,” was Mira’s conclusion as she read this. 
But a letter from Etta Payne ruffled her spirit 
of resignation, and she hoped her father would 
consent to the proposed journey. 

Hope was changed to glad fruition, when 
he appeared and told her she could go. But 
she must go as befitted his daughter ; and 
he had purchased materials for an addition 
to her wardrobe. In doing this, he had not 
been careful of expense, and with the aid of 
a skilful dress-maker costly fabrics were 
transformed into elegant dresses. 


*250 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


Arrangements were made for the care of 
the children, and Mira accompanied her 
father on his return to the city. Here she 
spent a few days, not unpleasantly, and then 
proceeded to her destination. As had been 
previously arranged, Albert accompanied her 
to Mr. Payne’s. 

No welcome could have been more cordial 
than was given her there, Etta claiming her. 
as cousin and friend. 

" Ask the doctor to come out with you,” 
whispered Etta, as Albert was about to say 
good-by. " Tell him I have a friend visiting 
me, whom I wish him to see.” 

"I will tell him,” was the reply. "You 
will be sure to see him, as soon as he can 
leave his patients.” 

Dr. Wilson was a hard worker in the pro- 
fession he had chosen, allowing himself lit- 
tle time for recreation. But he did take 
time to go out to Uncle John’s, and seemed 
in no especial haste to leave. 

His "little cousin” was inclined to ask 
some questions in regard to his new-found 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


251 


leisure, and would have continued her inves- 
tigations had he not discovered a way to 
silence her. 

"Well, doctor, I must acknowledge that 
I am glad to see you here, under any circum- 
stances,” she said, with a laugh. "I might 
be afraid of you, if Mira was not here ; so I 
bless you both for coming.” 

A train of seemingly disconnected events 
had brought about this meeting; yet from 
the time when Albert Wilson had' lain by the 
roadside, bruised and bleeding, everything 
had tended toward it. That was the turn- 
ing-point of his life, and the change in him 
had an effect upon others. 

Thus, from seeming evil, good may be 
evoked ; while discipline ofttimes leads to 
happiness. 


X. 


A duty bravely done, 

A hero’s chaplet won, 

Thus life was given; 

And one more earthly child, 
With sin no more defiled, 
Went home to Heaven. 


Mira Dempster and Etta Payne were as 
welcome guests as ever entered the homes of 
hospitable friends. They carried with them 
sunshine and gladness, filling spacious rooms, 
or narrow rooms, it mattered not which, with: 
the music of their voices. 

Mira had thought it impossible to be ab- 
sent from home more than a month, but she 
was persuaded to add another week to the 
allotted time. This she did, with the con- 
sent of her father, and the approval of Aunt 
Dinah, from whom she heard semi-weekly, 
Rufus acting as amanuensis. 

The children were well and happy ; anx- 

252 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


253 


ious to see Sister Mi, yet willing she should 
stay and have a good time. 

Albert would not allow her to be unhappy. 
He prophesied everything good for her in 
the future ; and even expressed the belief 
that her father would some time repent of 
his past and present life. 

" He is not so bad as I thought,” said the 
young man. "He loves money, and will 
have it, in one way or another ; but he loves 
his children too, and I think that, in some 
way, he will be saved. I don’t know how,” 
he continued, in answer to a question asked 
by his cousin. " Aunt Dinah has faith that 
he will become a good man. If he would 
sign her pledge, he would be all right.” 

"If he would give up his business,” re- 
joined Mira. • 

"That would follow. Let him give up 
swearing, smoking, and drinking, and the 
store would be a place of such torture that 
he couldn’t endure it.” 

This visit came to an end ; but Etta Payne 
accompanied her friend when she returned 


254 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


home. "I must see Aunt Dinah and the 
children,” said Etta to her parents. 

Aunt Dinah felt greatly complimented 
when the laughing girl told her of this, and 
the children thought it was very good in 
Cousin Etta to wish to see them. 

The garden was blooming with its wealth 
of summer flowers, and from the cottage win- 
dows peeped sweet young faces, beaming 
with happiness. There was laughter and 
song, music and mirth. The long days were 
all too short. 

For the time, Mira Dempster ignored care 
and anxiety ; indeed, she could hardly do 
otherwise while with her present companion. 
Etta was delighted with everything she saw 
or heard. Flitting from the parlor to the 
kitchen, from the garden to the shop, she 
went everywhere , singing and rejoicing . She 
coaxed Aunt Dinah to show her "the pledge ; ” 
and directly under Albert Wilson’s name 
she traced her own in fairy-like characters. 

" I wish I could manage to get that pledge 
into my possession,” she said to her friend. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


255 


"What do you suppose would induce Aunt 
Dinah to give it to me ? ” 

By chance, the owner of the pledge heard 
this question and answered for herself. 

"Can’t never spare that, Miss Etta; I’d 
give you most anything but that.” 

Then, if she couldn’t have the original, 
could she have a copy? This seemed a rea- 
sonable request, and was granted at oiice, 
Rufus cheerfully performing his part. The 
names were added, leaving a space for Al- 
bert’s. A scarlet ribbon bound the tiny 
roll, and Etta possessed a pledge as nearly 
like Aunt Dinah’s as it was possible a copy 
should be. 

" Albert will sign it the first time I see him,” 
she said, confidently. 

" I wish that boy here this minute.” 

"What boy, Mi?” asked Charley, coming 
in from the garden. 

" ’Twan’t you I talked ’bout, chile ; but ole 
auntie always glad to see you. Spect you’d 
like to see your Cousin Albert.” 

"I guess I should. He’s most as good as 


256 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


Sister Mi and here Charley whispered some- 
thing in Aunt Dinah’s ear, which caused her 
to exclaim : — 

" Bless de good Lord ! ” 

Albert wished himself at the home cottage 
quite as much as any one wished to have him 
there ; but he was forced to be content with 
a frequent interchange of letters. 

"No prospect of my coming at present,” 
he wrote. " Tell Rufus I envy him the pleas- 
ure of drifting down the river with you all. 
I am rowing up stream, and hope some time 
to reach a haven, not of rest, but recom- 
pense.” 

"I wish Albert was here to help you,” said 
Mira, one afternoon when Rufus was doing: 
duty as boatman. 

"I wish he was here, but I have no espe- 
cial need of help. I have always enjoyed be- 
ing on the water, ever since I was old enough 
to handle the oars ; and I know every rod of 
this channel as well as I know our own gar- 
den. Edgar wished to come, but it is a busy 
time with farmers.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


257 


Nevertheless, the party had not been long 
at the fishing-ground, when Charley was sure 
he heard Edgar’s whistle, and directly the 
young man was seen making rapid strides 
toward the river. 

w I managed to get through my work ; so I 
thought I would come over,” he said, in an- 
swer to the greetings received. 

They were all glad of Edgar’s coming, as 
he knew every rod of the shore, and could 
tell them many curious things connected with 
wood-craft and hunting. His strong arms 
were at the service of the whole party. 
Where they could not walk he carried them. 

But for Rufus, >vho remained in the boat, 
fishing, there would have been small provis- 
ion for the breakfast Aunt Dinah had prom- 
ised. He was the only reliable one of the 
party, as all acknowledged when they came 
back laden with mosses and flowers. 

" There is a place for everybody, and a 
work for everybody,” said the fisherman, 
gravely, thinking of his own restricted 
powers. 


17 


258 


AUNT denah’s pledge. 


" The trouble is, that so few people fill their 
place, or do their work,” responded Etta. 
" I have seen enough of the world to know 
that. If we all did right, what a paradise 
this would be ! It seems to me I have been 
living very near paradise for the last three 
weeks,” she added. "It seems like a story 
one reads, without half believing. I expect 
to wake up and find I have been dreaming.” 

"You haven’t been asleep to-day; you’ve 
been talking and laughing all the time,” re- 
marked Oily, in a tone of the utmost serious- 
ness ; and, of course, the assertion made 
everybody laugh heartily. 

Drifting down the fiver, with just enough 
movement of the oars to keep the boat in the 
channel, they sang as the twilight deepened 
round them. A quartette of voices, each 
one clear and distinct, yet blending sweetly 
and harmoniously. 

What could have sent Hiram Dempster 
into the country that day of all others ! He 
hardly knew himself ; yet there he was, stand- 
ing on the piazza, when the party returned. 


AUNT DINAHS PLEDGE. 


259 


Aunt Dinah had wished him "way off on 
an island jes by himself ; ” and Mira could 
have echoed the wish heartily. She loved her 
father, but she did not wish to see him then. 
He was smoking, and this annoyed her. She 
met him, however, with as much cordiality 
as she could command, introduced him to her 
friend, and made inquiries for his health. 

" I have not been feeling quite well,” he 
replied. " I thought a few days of rest might 
benefit me ; so I came to try the effect of 
Aunt Dinah’s cooking, and my children’s 
company.” 

As may be supposed, the cigar had been 
thrown away, and the gentleman had put on 
his very best manners. These were unex- 
ceptionable but with such a face they could 
never be a passport to favor. The children 
alone seemed at ease with him. 

As usual he had brought the choicest luxu- 
ries of the season, and some of these were 
upon the supper-t^ble. These could not fail 
to be appreciated; yet they were eaten 
with far less relish than they would have 


260 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


been had Etta occupied the seat opposite 
her friend. 

But there sat Hiram Dempster, praising 
everything indiscriminately, drinking cup 
after cup of coffee and eating little. He was 
vexed that his presence should impose a 
restraint upon his daughter and her guest ; 
more vexed that he could not throw off the 
consciousness of it. 

Etta was demure and quiet ; totally unlike 
her usually brilliant self. Mira’s manners 
were abstracted ; and but for the children it 
would have been difficult to keep up a con- 
versation. 

Etta had a prejudice against this man, on 
Albert’s account, and if she could have sent 
him from her presence would gladly have 
done so. But he was Mira’s father, and im- 
mediately she began to wonder if it would 
be possible to reform him. 

She was such a wee bit of a thing, "jes 
like a butterfly,” as Aunt Dinah said ; but, 
as I have before shown, she had a wise little 
head. She could never approach him di- 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


261 


rectly, and ask him to give up the use of 
liquor, — that was settled before she left the 
table. It occurred to her then, that she was 
adding to her friend’s discomfort by silence, 
and she made a great effort to resume her 
usual manners. In this she succeeded so well 
that the evening passed more pleasantly than 
had seemed possible. 

Mr. Dempster was fond of music, and Etta 
was a fine pianist. The next morning there 
were several sheets of new music upon the 
piano, and as the master of the house was 
wandering restlessly about he noticed them. 
He examined the music, and asked Mira if 
she could play it. 

"I have never tried it,” was the reply. 
"It belongs to Etta, and I have not seen it 
till this morning.” 

" Ask your friend if she will play some of 
it,” then said her father. " I should he glad 
to hear something new. By the way, you 
must give more attention to music. I will 
ride over and see Professor Atwood this 
afternoon. If he can give you lessons, I 


.262 aunt dinah’s pledge. 

will provide a way for you to go to him once 
or twice a week.” 

Mira expressed her satisfaction with this, 
and went to call Etta, who was very willing 
to play new music, or old, as might suit the 
fancy of her audience. She had played sev- 
eral 'pieces, when, on taking another sheet, 
a small roll fell to the floor. Mr. Dempster 
stooped to pick it up. 

” Why, that is Aunt Dinah’s pledge ! ” ex- 
claimed Etta, in a perfectly natural tone. 
"I wouldn’t lose that for a great deal.” 

" Aunt Dinah’s pledge ! ” repeated the 
gentleman, as he placed it in her extended 
hand. " Excuse me, Miss Payne, but I am 
really curious to know what it can be. I 
am always interested in everything relating 
to Aunt Dinah.” 

"This pledge is no secret,” replied Etta ; 
"I am perfectly willing you should see it ; ” 
and, untying the scarlet ribbon, she held the 
roll open before him. Then, as if suddenly 
remembering something which demanded im- 
mediate attention, she left the room, saying, 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


263 


"I will come back, and finish the music di- 
rectly.” 

She was away long enough for him to read 
the pledge, and draw some conclusions. A 
faint suspicion crossed his mind that this had 
intentionally been placed in his way; but 
the frank, self-possessed manners of the 
owner put this suspicion to flight. 

" Isn’t it a nice pledge ? ” she asked, look- 
ing him full in the face ; and he could do no 
less than answer, " Very nice.” 

" Aunt Dinah dictated it, and Rufus wrote 
it,” she continued. " You see there is one 
blank line. That is for Albert’s name.” 

"Do you think he will sign that paper?” 
asked Mr. Dempster, more because he knew 
not what else to say, than from any desire to 
have the question answered. 

" I know he will,” replied Etta. " His name 
is on the original. This is only a copy. I 
was very anxious to have the original ; but 
Aunt Dinah keeps that for herself. There 
is room for other names, and I hope to have 
the paper full some time. My father likes a 


264 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


glass of wine, and a cigar; but I shall ask 
him to sign this pledge.” 

Mr. Dempster breathed more freely. He 
was no worse than other men, after all, and 
even if Miss Payne did ask him to write his 
name under her own, he could decline with 
tolerable grace. 

Such calculations were unnecessary. The 
young lady had not the slightest idea of 
asking him to sign the pledge. He had seen 
it, and she knew he could not forget it. That 
was sufficient for her present purpose . Taking 
it from his hand, she carefully rolled it, tied 
it with the scarlet ribbon, and laid it upon 
the table. 

" Now I will give you some more music,” 
she said, seating herself at the piano. 

Marches, waltzes, and bravuras were all 
the same to her companion. His mind was 
in a whirl, as she could not fail to know. 
Yet she played on, as skilfully as though he 
was giving her his undivided attention. 
Nevertheless, it was a relief to both, when 
the children came in, saying they had fin- 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


265 


isked their lessons, and Sister Mi was going 
into the garden with them to pick berries. 

" Won’t you come too, father?” asked 
Charley ; hut his father complained of a head- 
ache, and preferred to remain in the house. 

He seemed to have a fancy for being alone 
that day. In the afternoon he drove over to 
Professor Atwood’s, leaving his children to 
wonder why they were not invited. There 
was just one reason for this. He had not 
smoked since the evening before, and he 
would deny himself this luxury no longer. 
So he took his cigar-case, and left his chil- 
dren. 

They, too, sought pleasure in their own 
way, and on his return he found the house 
deserted. 

"All gone to the woods, and spect they’ll 
stay,” said Aunt Dinah, in answer to his ques- 
tions. 

They did stay, until late supper-time, and 
had marvellous stories to tell of the won- 
ders they had seen. 

Mr. Dempster really envied them their 


266 


aunt dinar’s pledge. 


hearty enjoyment of simple delights. "If 
we could always be young, this would be a 
happy world,” he remarked, smiling at the 
enthusiasm of his children. 

" Do you think it necessary that we should 
be less happy as we grow older?” asked 
Etta. 

" I think most people are less happy,” he 
replied. 

" That is because they do wrong ; act against 
their own convictions of duty, and so blunt 
their sensibilities,” responded the young girl, 
with becoming gravity. 

Aunt Dinah, standing behind Mira’s chair, 
gave a nod of approval at this, thinking that 
the gentleman opposite must needs see the 
application. 

However this might be, he made it the 
occasion of a compliment to his guest. " If 
that is the only reason, you will have a life- 
long lease of happiness,” he said. 

" I hope so ; I intend to be happy and add 
to the happiness of others.” The laugh which 
enforced this was so low and sweet, that 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 267 

Charley said it sounded " just like a music- 
box.” 

Hiram Dempster was in a most gracious 
mood during his entire stay ; consulting Mira 
upon many points where before he had only 
considered his own wishes. He also re- 
garded her feelings and his own appearance 
so far as to abstain from the use of any intox- 
icating drink. 

Rufus Freeman thought he had really im- 
proved. Edgar thought that he had only 
put on a good coat, which he would take off 
as soon as he was back in the city. Aunt 
Dinah was looking into the future ; thinking 
less of this man than of some younger people. 

" I know all about that boy,” she said. " ’Pears 
like ” — and here she fell into a fit of musing. 

When her father and Etta were both gone# 
Mira had time to devote to music, in which 
she had already made commendable profi- 
ciency. A large addition had been made to 
her library ;* new magazines found their way 
to the cottage, and the approaching autumn 
promised to be a pleasant season. For the . 


268 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


books, she was indebted to her father ; for 
the magazines, she might thank others. 

Of course, Rufus and Edgar shared the 
benefit of these ; the latter promising himself 
a rich treat the coming winter. His desire 
for riches had lost something of its intensity, 
knowledge seeming to him the greater good. 

He was a fine fellow, as everybody said, 
willing to work, and faithful to the interests 
of his employer. The pledge he had signed 
saved him from many temptations. There 
was no dallying with sin. He resolutely 
turned his back upon it, and everybody knew 
that he was in earnest. No one thought of 
giving him sympathy ; he didn’t need it, 
having always been able to help himself. 
Yet he had some dark thoughts ; and as he 
read of lands where color is no barrier to dis- 
tinction, he longed to go and try his power 
with others. But there were his mother 
and brother; they needed him. So, with a 
prayer for patience, he went on his way. 
Alone with books it mattered not whether 
he was white or black. 


aunt dinaii’s pledge. 


269 


Aunt Dinah was ambitious for her chil- 
dren, and she did sometimes wish they could 
have a fair chance with others. She thought 
of this more, now that Edgar was old enough 
to display his mental and physical powers. 
It required all her faith to say " The good 
Lord knows best.” But she did say it with 
sincerity. There was coming a greater trial 
of faith, through this same boy of whom she 
was so proud. Would she still trust the 
good Lord ? 

Edgar Freeman was returning from his 
day’s labor somewhat earlier than usual, when 
he heard a loud cry. He stopped to listen, 
when it was repeated. This time he was 
sure it came from the sand-bank, and started 
to run in <that direction. Continued cries 
were now heard, and before he reached the 
bank others were following. 

A large excavation had been made that day, 
and some boys, without thinking of danger, 
had entered what they called "the cave.” 
Here they worked away to make a smaller 
cave in the side, and were rejoicing over their 


270 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


success, when a vigorous blow brought down 
a shower of sand and stones. One little fel- 
low, who had advanced farthest into the bank, 
found himself shut out from his companions, 
and shrieked with terror. The cry was taken 
up by others, as he made frantic efforts to 
escape from his prison, each effort only in- 
creasing the fall of sand and burying him 
deeper from their sight. 

Edgar was first to reach th<3 place, and, 
springing into the cave, seized a shovel wilich 
had been left by one of the workmen. With 
this he removed the sand carefully, and the 
boy was soon liberated, unhurt. 

" Hurrah for Edgar Freeman ! ” shouted 
one ; but, at that moment, several rushed to 
the edge of the bank, and Edgar was buried 
from sight. 

Others Were partly covered ; but they were 
soon relieved. They called the buried boy. 
There was no answer, and a death-like pallor 
settled upon all faces. Men and boys were 
despatched for shovels, while those who re- 
mained began to scrape away the sand with 


aunt dinah's pledge. 


271 


their hands. To their dismay, the whole 
mass seemed ready to slide. 

At length, an old man came who had 
experience in such matters, and under 
his direction they worked to better pur- 
pose. 

The most intense excitement prevailed ; 
the father of the rescued boy offering fifty 
acres of land to any one who would take out 
Edgar Freeman alive. 

" I’ll give another fifty to him too,” he 
added. 

Minutes seemed like hours, as the men 
worked on. One boot was seen, and a shout 
went up from all present. 

" Stand back ! ” now said the old man. 
"Stand back!” 

Three only continued the work, removing 
the sand with the utmost care and rapidity. 
Edgar was lying upon his face, mouth and 
eyes protected by his hands, with which he 
had instinctively covered them. 

By this time Dr. Waring had arrived, and 
bent over the motionless body. Removed 


272 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


from the sand and extended upon the grass, 
there was no sign of life. 

" Is he dead ? ” asked one and another ; but 
the doctor had no disposition to answer 
questions. 

A faint fluttering of the heart showed that 
life was not extinct, and, making use of such 
restoratives as he had at hand, he was 
soon gratified by seeing the boy open his 
eyes. 

Edgar Freeman# was a hero. The first 
sounds he heard were words of praise and 
gratitude. He had well earned them. God 
grant he had not paid too dear a price ! 

He made an effort to rise, but fell back. 
"You must wait a little,” said the doctor, 
kindly. " You can’t expect to be very strong 
just- at present.” 

Ill news travels fast. Aunt Dinah heard 
of the accident, and started at once for the 
sand-bank. Mira followed, after charging 
the children not to leave the house ; and 
Rufus vainly tried to keep pace with her. 
At first she suited her steps to his ; but 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


273 


anxiety for Edgar proved stronger than 
sympathy for his crippled brother. 

Dinah Freeman uttered not a word ; but, 
seating herself upon the grass, took the boy’s 
head in her lap. He reached up his hand 
to clasp hers, and the bystanders gave them 
more room. As yet no one knew the ex- 
tent of the injury received. Mira came up 
breathless with haste, knelt beside Aunt 
Dinah, and spoke to Edgar. 

"It will be best to take him home,” said 
the doctor. " The sooner the better. He 
ought not to lie here.” 

" Help me to my feet,” said Edgar ; and 
two strong men gave him the needed assist- 
ance. 

" Why, you can really stand ! ” exclaimed 
Dr. Waring. " That is much better than I 
feared.” 

"Yes, and walk too,” was the reply of our 
hero, as he took a few steps, although with 
evident pain. 

Every one was relieved ; and Mr. Lam- 
bert, standing there, expressed his deep 
18 


274 


aunt uinah’s pledge. 


sense of obligation for the rescue of his 
son. 

" Don’t talk about it,” said Edgar, wearily. 
"It wasn’t anything to do.” 

Rufus only caught a glimpse of him, as 
he was lifted into a wagon ; but to know that 
he was alive was great comfort. By the 
kindness of a neighbor the brother, with Mira 
Dempster, reached the cottage in advance 
of the slowly moving cavalcade. 

Edgar was brought in and placed upon the 
bed, in a room opening from the kitchen. 
Weak and exhausted by the ride, he was 
compelled to depend entirely upon the 
strength of others. 

"No bones broken,” said Dr. Waring. 
"You need rest, and you must have it if 
possible. I will endeavor to send these 
people away.” 

Aunt Dinah moved about with compressed 
lips, Rufus sat by the bed, looking at his 
brother through tearful eyes. Mira told 
the children of Edgar’s condition; but she 
did not allow them to go near him. 


AUNT DINAH'S PLEDGE. 


275 


"I wish I could just see him. I do want 
to see him,” said Charley. 

Many wished to see him ; and many were 
denied the privilege. Much sympathy was 
felt and expressed ; quite too much to please 
the mother, who desired to be left alone with 
her family. 

Edgar complained of a bad feeling in his 
side ; yet he slept most of the night, and in 
the morning spoke confidently of being at 
work in a few days. The doctor was not so 
confident. He hoped for the best; but he 
told Mira Dempster that he was afraid the 
boy would never do much more work. 

"It isn’t necessary to talk about it,” he 
said. "His mother will see it for herself, if 
such is the case ; and no good can come from 
anticipating trouble.” 

According to his own account, Edgar sat 
in state through the day, and received the 
homage of his friends. Rufus devoted the 
entire day to him ; and the children spent as 
much time in Aunt Dinah’s cottage as their 
sister would allow. 


276 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


Mr. Lambert was one of the visitors. In 
the excitement of the previous afternoon he 
had said he would give fifty acres of land to 
Edgar Freeman, and he redeemed the prom- 
ise. It was no mean gift either. The land 
was not under cultivation, but it was valua- 
ble in itself, and could easily be made pro- 
ductive. A deed of the same had been duly 
executed, and was now placed in the hands 
of its new owner. 

"I don’t wish for this,” said Edgar. 
"There is no reason whatever why you 
should give it to me, and I really can’t take 
it.” 

"But the deed is registered,” answered 
Mr. Lambert, "and I must redeem my prom- 
ise. You had nothing to do with my making 
it, as you were under ground at the time. 
You have nothing to do now but accept the 
land, and make the most of it.” 

" But — ” commenced Edgar. 

" There are no buts nor ifs about it,” inter- 
rupted the visitor. "I have said my say, 
and am going home.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


277 


Suiting the action to the word, he left the 
house, while Edgar held the deed. 

"You can take it, mother,” he said. "If 
I live I shall pay for the land. If not, it 
may do you some good. I’ve been thinking 
that I should like to be a farmer.” 

"I don’t want it,” was the reply. "It 
don’t seem to b’long to you. You didn’t do 
nothin’ but your duty, boy.” 

" I know that, mother ; but We can settle 
it some other time. Mr. Lambert means all 
right, and fifty acres of land isn’t much to 
him.” 

The whole interest of the two families 
now centred upon Edgar, who, for many 
days, seemed to grow neither better nor 
worse. He walked a little; going out of 
doors when the weather was fine. The ef- 
fort, however, was always attended with suf- 
fering, and followed by great fatigue. 

"I’ve done most of my walking,” he one 
day said to Mira, when she expressed a hope 
that he would soon be able to walk more 
easily. " I haven’t talked about it ; but I don’t 


278 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


expect to walk much more. Perhaps I shall 
never come in here again.” 

He was then in Mira’s sitting-room, occu- 
pying an easy-chair, and seemed as comfort- 
able as he had been at any time since he was 
injured. 

" I believe you are getting low-spirited,” 
responded his companion. "We must con- 
trive some way to cheer you up, and make 
you well.” 

"I should like to get well, if it is for the 
best. But, as mother says, the good Lord 
knows ; and I am willing it should be as he 
pleases.” 

Mira laid down her work. "Don’t you 
expect to get well?” she asked, looking at 
him earnestly. 

He shook his head. " I don’t see any pros- 
pect of it. The trouble is here,” he added, 
after a short pause, placing his hand on his 
side. " Something is wrong, and the doctor 
can’t reach it. It seemed to me, at first, that 
I couldn’t die now, but — ” Here a great 
sob burst from him, and he covered his face. 


aunt Dinah’s pledge. 


279 


"Forgive me, Miss Mira,” he said, as soon 
as he could speak, "I didn’t intend to say 
anything about this.” 

"I am very glad th^t you have,” she re- 
plied. " Albert is anxious to know just how 
you are.” 

"I wish I could see him once more,” said 
her companion. Albert was informed of this 
wish, and in a few days visited his friends 
with Dr. Wilson, when Edgar gave them so 
cordial and cheerful a greeting, they thought 
it impossible that he was making ready to die. 
But they were soon undeceived. His life 
might be prolonged for weeks, perhaps 
months ; yet there was no prospect of recov- 
ery. A consultation of physicians was held, 
without deciding upon any new course of 
treatment. All had been done which could 
be done. 

Dinah Freeman knew this. She had seen 
too much of sickness and suffering to be easily 
deceived, and she was the first to be con- 
vinced that her boy must die. It was hard 
to give him up ; but so that his soul was 


280 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


saved, she would try to bow in submis- 
sion. 

She had not yet been able to command 
herself sufficiently to speak to him upon the 
subject; but Dr. Wilson talked with him, 
and obtained a frank expression of feeling. 

" I don’t fear what will come after death,” 
said Edgar. " I know I have done wrong ; 
but ever since mother made me lay my hand 
on the Bible, and give her a promise, I have 
felt my accountability to God. I have asked 
him to forgive my sins, and I believe that he 
has. I am sorry to leave mother and Rufus. 
They need me ; but the good Lord can pro- 
vide for them in his own way.” 

This was not said connectedly, as I have 
written it, but at different times, in the course 
of conversation ; and it seemed to him who 
heard it, that the speaker’s hope of a glori- 
ous immortality rested upon a sure founda- 
tion. 

Rufus had no heart to work, when once 
assured that his brother must die. The light 
of his own life seemed going out. His 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


281 


brother was his pride and dependence. 
" Why couldn’t it be me, a crooked, useless 
stick, instead of him?” murmured the de- 
formed man. 

" I suppose it’s all right,” said the old man, 
who directed the efforts for Edgar’s release 
from a living grave, — " I suppose it’s all right ; 
but I can’t help thinking that the boy he 
saved may be nothing more than a curse to 
the whole community. His father aint bring- 
ing him up right. Ten chances to one but 
he’ll make a drunkard.” 

These remarks reached the ear of Edgar 
Freeman, and caused him no little anxiety. 
He had saved the boy from physical death. 
Who would save him from moral death ? 

Edgar was debating this question, when 
Mr. Lambert came in. As this was his first 
call, after he knew there was no hope of the 
young man’s recovery, he was deeply moved. 

"What can I do for you?” he asked. 
"Anything I have is at your service.” 

"I have all that I need,” was the reply. 
"My friends are very kind. But I have 


282 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


been thinking of Willie, and I want you to 
make him a good man.” 

" I will try,” responded Mr. Lambert. " If 
he grows up to be as good as you are, I shall 
be satisfied. I guess your mother knows how 
to train boys better than I do.” 

" Mother understands boys pretty well,” 
said Edgar. " She got me to sign a pledge 
of good behavior more than a year ago, and 
I haven’t broken it yet.” 

" What was the pledge ? ” 

" Perhaps she will let you see it and di- 
rectly the mother was called. 

This pledge, which she intended to keep a 
family secret, had been too often seen for her 
to demur now ; and, moreover, she would 
grant any request made by her son. 

Mr. Lambert read it, with the names at- 
tached. "That’s a remarkable document,” 
he said, musingly. " If my boy was to sign 
that, and stick to it, he’d make a good man.” 

" The chances would be in his favor.” 

" That’s what they would. But I’ll never 
ask my boy to sign a paper I won’t sign 


aunt uinah’s pledge. 


283 


myself. ’Twould be a tough job for me to 
keep those conditions.” 

" I wish you would, both of you, sign that 
pledge,” said Edgar, with some hesitation. 

"Do you wish so? Would it make you 
any happier?” eagerly asked his compan- 
ion. 

"Yes, sir ; indeed it would,” was the quick 
response. 

" Then here goes,” said Mr. Lambert ; and, 
seizing a pen from the table near him, he 
wrote his name without further considera- 
tion. " I’ll take Willie over to-morrow.” 

"Spect that man didn’t think what he’s 
’bout,” exclaimed Aunt Dinah, after he had 
gone. " ’Pears like he’s crazy.” 

It appeared somewhat so to himself, as he 
thought the matter over, on his way home ; 
but he knew he could keep the pledge, and 
for Willie’s sake he would . 


XI. 


The time of trial passed, 

Life’s problem solved, at last, 

To Him who rules the skies 
We look with streaming eyes, 

And say, as words may tell, 

“ He doeth all things well.” 

Edgar Freeman died with the year. As 
the clock struck twelve, his mother, bending 
over him, whispered, "He is gone, — gone 
to that land where color is no banner to dis- 
tinction ; gone where there is neither sor- 
row nor suffering.” This was no cause for 
grief ; yet never was son and brother more 
sincerely mourned. 

Many were present at the funeral ; the 
gray-haired clergyman who had, a few days 
before, administered the sacrament to the 
young man, officiating at his burial. 

Mr. Dempster and Albert Wilson were 
there, and together looked down into the 
open grave. There they met upon common 

284 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


285 


ground, and whatever of unpleasant feeling 
there might have been between them in the 
past, it was there ignored, as each dropped 
a tear to the memory of him who had left 
them* 

The children wept as for a dear brother. 
Rufus refused to be comforted ; but the 
mother went back to her accustomed duties 
subdued and sorrowful, yet sometimes smil- 
ing as she thought of her boy safe home. 

' They all missed his glad shouts and cheery 
whistle ; missed, too, his ready hand and 
vigorous arm. But still the world moved 
on. Spring came again, with flowers and 
sunshine and singing of birds. These had 
been welcomed with rejoicing in the years 
gone by ; but now a spell seemed to rest upon 
the two cottages which stood in such close 
proximity. 

Mira Dempster sympathized with Aunt 
Dinah, who feared that she must soon resign 
her last child. From the day of his broth- 
er’s death Rufus had drooped. For a while 
he compelled himself to labor; but this 


28(5 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


became too much of an effort for his failing 
strength, and the shop was closed. 

Dr. Waring was called, and after some con- 
versation with the invalid shook his head 
ominously. 

" You can’t do much for me,” said Rufus ; 
"but it will please mother to have you try. 
I am ready to take anything you may pre- 
scribe ; but this poor body is almost worn 
out. Since Edgar died I have thought more 
about heaven than I ever did before ; and it 
seems to me I shall be there with him very 
soon. I don’t think I shall be crooked in 
heaven, do you, doctor?” he said, after a 
short pause. 

The doctor had given more thought to 
this world than to the world beyond ; more 
to bodies mortal than to bodies immortal ; 
yet he did not hesitate to assure Rufus that 
there could be no deformity in heaven. 

In midsummer a new grave was opened 
in the village church-yard, and Dinah Free- 
man was written childless. 

It would be useless to recount the last 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


287 


words. These are always such as touch the 
deepest fountains of the heart, and linger in 
the memory long after the lips which ut- 
tered them are cold in death. Blessed words 
they were in this instance, uttered as the 
spirit, leaving its earthly tenement, had a 
vision of the heavenly mansions which Christ 
has prepared for those who love him. 

"’Pears like I can’t never forget them 
words,” said Aunt Dinah, speaking to Mira. 
"I hear ’em in my sleep, and I don’t want 
my boys back. O honey, chile, it’s a great 
thing to get safe home to glory.” 

" What a happy family you will be ! ” re- 
sponded Mira. 

"Yes, chile, I spect it. Them boys’ father 
was a Christian, and I tries to do my duty. 
’Pears like we’ll all sing glory to God when I 
gets through.” 

Aunt Dinah had now but one family to 
care for, and her own kitchen was nearly 
deserted. She sat down there occasionally, 
but there was no fire in the stove, and no 
work about the room. 


288 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


The land which Mr. Lambert had given to 
Edgar came into her possession, and after an 
ineffectual attempt to restore it to its rightful 
owner she disposed of it, and invested the 
proceeds in bank stock. Everybody was 
ready to do her a favor, and she had no lack 
of friends. 

" She is well off,” said the same old man 
who has before been introduced to my read- 
ers. "Her boys never could done what they 
wanted to, on account of their color, and 
’twas a mercy to take them out of the world. 
Edgar did a good job before he died, and I 
guess Lambert’ll hold out in the way he’s 
begun. Willie has signed the pledge too. 
It’s wonderful how things come round when 
there’s a Christian somewhere praying.” 

Edgar Freeman earnestly desired to make 
his mark in the world, and he had been per- 
mitted to do so ; not in the way he would 
have chosen, but in the way which seemed 
best to Him who sees the end from theJbe- 
ginning. 

Mr. Lambert made no secret of the fact 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


289 


that he and his boy had signed Aunt Dinah’s 
pledge. They were going to keep it too ; 
so there was a prospect that Willie would 
make a good and useful man. 

Two deaths, under such peculiar circum- 
stances in a family so intimately connected 
with his own, appealed strongly to Hiram 
Dempster ; and all the more since no one 
seemed to expect they would have any in- 
fluence upon him. 

He continued his business, and was fast 
becoming a wealthy man ; yet the thought of 
this gave him less pleasure than formerly. 
Conscience reminded him that there would 
come a day of reckoning ; and a new move- 
ment among the friends of temperance called 
his attention to the subject. 

Yet all this did not prevent his drinking 
and gambling as usual. The force of habit 
was very strong ; and, moreover, he sought 
by indulgence to stifle his convictions of 
duty. 

His children were safe from the contamina- 
tion of his example. Aunt Dinah and Mira 
19 


290 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


would keep close watch of Charley ; and he 
doubted not that by and by his boy’s name 
would be affixed to the magic pledge. 

Thus he threw his own responsibilities 
upon others, never thinking that Mira might 
choose to assume new relations. - To him 
she was only a child, although he had de- 
manded from her the matureness of a 
woman. 

She was presented to him in a new light 
when Dr. Wilson asked her hand in mar- 
riage. 

His first impulse was to declare that she 
was quite too young to think of marriage ; 
his second, that she could not leave the chil- 
dren. Then he considered the matter calmly. 
He was averse to having any relations with 
the Wilson family, and wished this young 
physician had never seen his daughter. 

He could not undertake the management 
of those children, and it was no use to think 
of it. He was not a suitable person to have 
the care of children, and he knew it. What 
was to be done ? 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


291 


He went to his country home, thinking all 
the way what a miserable thing it was for a 
man to make himself a dangerous companion 
for his own children. He would rather lay 
Charley in the grave than have him grow up 
to be a swearing, smoking, drinking gam- 
bler. 

He knew that the character of Dr. Wilson 
was above suspicion. He might make all 
the inquiries he pleased, and present the mat- 
ter in every conceivable light, there could be 
but one result, as he was soon forced to ac- 
knowledge. 

The following autumn, Dr. Wilson com- 
menced house-keeping, with Mira as mistress 
of the establishment. At least this was the 
position she seemed to occupy, while in fact 
she had delegated her power to Dinah Free- 
man. 

" Spect I shall go, sir,” she said to Dr. Wil- 
son, when he asked her to come to his home. 
" ’Pears like I’ve nothin’ left but them chil- 
dren.” 

So with the children she went, and the lit- 


292 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


tie brown cottage was sold, with its more 
pretentious neighbor. 

It was very hard to leave this cottage in 
which she had spent so many years of her 
life ; hard, too, for the children to feel that 
their long walks over the hills, and their 
short walks in the garden, were all in the 
past. 

Charley thought of the crickets. " Do you 
suppose there will be any in the doctor’s 
house ? ” he asked of Oily one evening, when 
the dwellers of the hearth were giving one 
of their most artistic concerts. 

" I don’t know, but I am afraid not,” was 
the reply. 

"Perhaps I can find some, and carry there,” 
said the boy, as he laid his head again upon 
the low footstool, that he might catch every 
flourish of the skilful musicians. 

"Dear Hippety lioppety, I am going to 
leave you,” he murmured later, when sleep 
was hanging her tiny weights upon his eye- 
lids. 

It was a large new house where Charley 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


293 


went, with not a cricket to be heard in it. 
Sister Mi was Mrs. Wilson ; and the doctor 
always kissed her whenever he went out or 
came in. 

" Quite a large family to commence with, 
and a very charming family too,” said the 
doctor’s friends. 

Mr. Dempster had given his daughter a 
generous outfit, in addition to the property 
which was her mother’s. He also provided 
most generously for the expenses of his 
younger children ; paying more into the gen- 
eral fund than his son-in-law considered 
just. 

" Let us not quarrel about it,” said the 
father. " I am willing to pay something for 
having them under good influences ; and I 
shall expect you to make Charley just such a 
man as he should be.” 

" He will naturally look to you more than 
to me,” was the reply. " A father’s influence 
is very great ; but while Mira has the care of 
Charley, I shall endeavor to assist in training 
him for usefulness, and consequently happi- 


294 


aunt dtnah’s pledge. 


ness. A useless man is never happy, as of 
course you know.” 

This was not the reply Hiram Dempster 
wished or expected. It was far from pleas- 
ant to he thus reminded of a responsibility 
which he had fancied transferred to others ; 
and he could not but suspect that his son-in- 
law had a purpose in so doing. Yet it would 
be impolitic to acknowledge this ; and, mak- 
ing some careless remark, he introduced 
another subject of conversation. 

His children disposed of, there was noth- 
ing to distract his attention from business. 
He at once resolved upon the acquisition of 
a fixed amount of property ; after which he 
would retire from active life and enjoy the 
fruits of his labors. 

Aunt Dinah still prayed for him with un- 
wavering faith. "Spect the day’ll come, 
honey,” she said to Mira, " spect it sure, 
when that man’ll repent. I’ve seen most 
everything, and I spect to see that.” 

But to his daughter this day seemed far 
off. He was an unprincipled man, with enough 


aunt dinah's pledge. 


295 


of good breeding to regard the customs or 
prejudices of those with whom he associated. 
In Dr. Wilson’s house he neither smoked nor 
drank wine ; yet the abstinence was followed 
by indulgence elsewhere. 

Mira was now where she saw her Cousin 
Albert almost daily. Etta Payne, too, was 
one of her frequent guests, light-hearted 
and merry as ever, although looking forward 
to woman’s lot and woman’s cares. 

Her pledge had received several new sig- 
natures since it came into her possession. 
Among these was Albert’s, underscored as in 
the original, and she knew his pledge had not 
been broken. Never off his guard, he had 
met and resisted temptations to which one of 
less decision would have yielded. This he 
had done with the prayer, "Lead us not into 
temptation,” constantly in his heart and often 
upon his lips. Regretting the years he had 
worse than wasted, he' wished to save other 
boys from making a similar waste of precious 
time. 

"Boys must learn by experience,” said an 


296 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


older man when talking of this subject. 
" They must sow their wild oats, and it’s of no 
use trying to hold them with too tight a 
rein.” 

" Then you think they must swear, must 
smoke, and must drink,” replied Albert 
Wilson. 

" I don’t know as there is any must about 
it; but you will acknowledge that a great 
many boys who do all of these make very 
smart men.” 

" And you must acknowledge that a large 
proportion of them make very bad men. No 
one can habitually take the name of God 
in vain, without losing all reverence for his 
Maker.” 

"Yes, I suppose that is true; and swear- 
ing is poor business any way. I don’t uphold 
anybody in doing it, although I am guilty of 
it myself sometimes, — a habit acquired when 
I was a boy ; and now I can’t seem to get rid 
of it. But there is smoking ; I don’t believe 
in that hurting anybody, unless they carry it 
to excess. A good cigar is pleasant company 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


297 


and helps to drive away the blues. But I 
believe you don’t smoke ; so you are not a 
judge.” 

"I did smoke. I have been a most invet- 
erate smoker, and know all the pleasure to be 
derived from a good cigar.” 

"Well, you must acknowledge that is a 
good deal.” 

" I used to think so ; but there are better 
ways of spending time and money. Looking 
at it in the abstract, burning tobacco isn’t 
very dignified employment for an intelligent 
man, and chewing tobacco is still worse. If 
any one wants a clear head and vigorous 
body he had better let it alone.” 

" There is such a thing as using tobacco in 
excess ; but I am sure that a little does me 
good. I feel the better for it.” 

" Do you know how you should feel with- 
out it?” asked Albert, laughing. 

"Well, well. That’s a pretty hard ques- 
tion,” replied the man, taking off his hat and 
running his fingers through his hair. " I’ve 
used tobacco ever since I was a boy, and I 


298 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


shouldn’t know how to get along without it. 
My stomach requires it.” 

"You could tell better about that after 
living six months without it,” said his com- 
panion. 

" Perhaps you are right ; and I atn willing 
to own that I hope my boys will never touch 
it. They never will if their mother can help 
it. She hates the weed.” 

"As every woman should,” heartily re- 
sponded Albert. " The only wonder to me 
is, that they tolerate its use and its filthiness. 
Then it leads to the use of intoxicating 
drinks, and this is its worst feature.” 

"Ha! You have reached the last of the 
three habits, and I suppose you will con- 
demn this unqualifiedly.” 

"Indeed I shall.” 

" And I shall agree with you so far as 
temperance is concerned,” responded the 
gentleman. "There is nothing more dis- 
gusting than the presence of a drunken man ; 
but an occasional glass of wine or brandy 
exhilarates the spirits, and promotes health.” 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


299 


I will not transcribe the arguments for and 
against the use of stimulants. They were 
such as are constantly offered by the oppos- 
ing parties on this great question. The 
gentleman who believed in use, and not abuse, 
at length acknowledged that there was great 
danger of exceeding the bounds of modera- 
tion. 

" Then why incur that danger ? ” asked his 
companion. "Why not keep on the safe 
side ? One who abstains altogether will 
never become a drunkard ; and for many 
there is no middle ground.” 

Albert Wilson could never see a boy using 
tobacco without wishing to speak a word of 
remonstrance ; and not one who came under 
his immediate influence but was warned of 
its evils. For Charley Dempster he was 
particularly anxious, and, mindful of his 
promise to Mira, he lost no opportunity for 
impressing upon her brother’s mind the sin- 
fulness of those habits which are making 
so many boys pests in the community. 

Charley was only eight years of age when 


300 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


he signed Aunt Dinah’s pledge, fully com- 
prehending to what he thus bound him- 
self. 

"Now I can’t ever get that name off,” he 
said, looking at his signature. 

"No, chile, never! Ole auntie keep this 
jes long’s she live, and that name be right 
there all time.” 

" Shall you want to get it off? ” asked Oily, 
who had written her own name directly under 
that of her brother. 

"No, I shan’t,” he answered, decidedly. 
"It would be telling a lie ; and I don’t mean 
to tell a lie.” 

Etta Payne compared her pledge with 
Aunt Dinah’s, saying, as she did so, " There 
are two more signatures we must have ; you 
must manage to get Hiram Dempster’s, and 
I must lay siege to father. I don’t think 
there is any danger that father will be a 
drunkard, but I want his influence on the 
right side. I am determined to have it 
too.” 

This young girl was reasonably sure to 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


301 


accomplish whatever she attempted ; it being 
a common remark among her friends that 
what she couldn’t do in one way she would 
in another. 

A few weeks before her marriage her 
parents and herself were invited to dine at 
the house of a friend, who made most gener- 
ous provision for the entertainment of his 
guests. Several others were present, and 
among them a young man who had given his 
friends great cause for anxiety on account of 
his convivial habits. 

The dinner was sumptuous in all its ap- 
pointments ; the wine and champagne worthy 
the connoisseur who had selected them. 
Etta was troubled ; yet it was no time to 
preach temperance more than could be done 
by example and playful remarks to the young 
man at her side. Yet these accomplished 
much good. He drank sparingly, and rose 
from the table with a clear head. 

"Young Jenkins’ mother ought to thank 
you for a sober driver home, this evening,” 
said Mr. Payne to his daughter, after their 


302 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


return from the dinner-party. " If it hadn’t 
been for you, he would have drank three 
times what he did. I always tremble for 
him, — such a fine fellow too. It is a 
shame that he don’t control himself better.” 

" More shame that people should put wine 
in his way, and even urge him to drink it, 
when they know his weakness ; and it seems 
to me something of a shame that older and 
professedly good men should drink in his 
presence.” 

" Because I drink one glass of wine, another 
man is not obliged to drink three,” responded 
the father, perceiving at once the point of his 
daughter’s remarks. 

" Certainly not,” answered Etta. " But 
the fact that you drink one glass shows that 
you approve of wine-drinking, and your influ- 
ence is in favor of it.” 

"djhere is nobody like you,” exclaimed Mr. 
Payne, with as much impatience as it was 
possible for him to feel with his darling child. 
"If you once get fairly going on a subject, 
there is no such thing as stopping you. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


303 


These notions of total abstinence, which have 
somehow found lodgment in your brain, are 
a trial to me. If you were only satisfied to 
keep them to yourself, I could have more 
patience with them.” 

" But it is not right for me to hide my light 
under a bushel. I want it to shine for the 
benefit of my friends, and for you in par 
ticular.” 

" Benefit ! ” repeated the father, smiling. 
"I have no peace of my life. When you are 
gone I shall — ” 

"Don’t say you shall be glad,” interrupted 
Etta, playfully. "I know you will miss 
me.” 

” To be sure I shall. How could I fail to 
miss my little preacher ? ” 

" What a name for me, father ! The idea 
of my being a preacher ! how ridiculous ! ” 
and Etta’s musical laugh was more prolonged 
than usual. 

"I think the name fits you,” was her fa- 
ther’s reply. " You hold forth on your favorite 
subject, and then you make the application 


304 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


direct and pointed. If that is not preaching, 
what is it ? ” 

"If I could only preach so that people 
would heed, I would turn preacher for the 
rest of my life,” mused Etta, when alone. 

" There is sense in the girl’s preaching, 
after all,” mused the father. " I suppose I 
could give up wine and cigars, and I would 
do it this very day, if I had hoys to bring 
up.” 

There was a widowed mother not far away, 
who had an only child, dear to her as any 
son could have been to Mr. Payne. She 
had endeavored to train him wisely ; hut the 
example of others had done much to destroy 
the effect of her precepts. 

Such men as Mr. Payne drank wine. 
Why should not he? They certainly would 
not do it if it was wrong. Thus reasoned 
George Jenkins ; and thus reason many 
others, quoting the example of respectable 
moderate drinkers in justification of their 
own intemperate habits. 

The time for Etta Payne’s marriage drew 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


305 


near. She was to become the wife of Albert 
.Wilson, who, as a young man bound to rise 
in the world, would be an acceptable son-in- 
law to her father. There must be a grand 
wedding with its usual accompaniments, and 
the arrangements for this were subjects of 
frequent discussion. 

ft What, no wine at your wedding ! ” ex- 
claimed Mr. Payne. "I shall have a word 
to say about that; and, as I provide the en- 
tertainment, I must insist upon furnishing 
what I please. We must have wine.” 

Etta had expected something like this 
when she broached the subject ; but she 
knew her power, and did not hesitate to 
wield it. As a consequence, nothing 
stronger than tea and coffee was provided 
for the guests, although the relatives knew 
that Uncle John had made a purchase of 
choice liquors for this very occasion. 

After a few weeks devoted to travel and 
sight-seeing, the young couple commenced 
house-keeping in the same neighborhood with 
Dr. Wilson. This was mutually pleasant 
20 


306 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


for the cousins ; and a constant interchange 
of calls and civilities strengthened their 
friendship. 

Aunt Dinah received her share of atten- 
tion, being often consulted by Etta upon 
matters which old house-keepers understand 
so much better than those just commencing. 
Their conversation, however, was not con- 
fined to any one subject. They talked of 
temperance and religion, as well as of cook- 
ing. The pledge formed a strong bond of 
union between them. 

" Spect I’ll get that bad man’s name some 
time,” said Aunt Dinah, speaking of Mr. 
Dempster. " Spect I will, sure.” 

There seemed little prospect of this ; yet 
there was not a day when the man did not 
think seriously of his duty. At length an 
appeal was made to him, which moved him 
deeply. 

A young man, who, by the death of his 
father, had come into possession of quite a 
fortune, was a constant visitant to the gam- 
bling-rooms of which Hiram Dempster & Co. 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


307 


were the proprietors. There he played for 
amusement, with only enough at stake to 
give zest to the game, until he became an 
expert. Of course he drank wine and 
champagne, as did all who visited those 
rooms. Occasionally he indulged in some- 
thing stronger ; yet he was considered a re- 
spectable young man, and in no particular 
danger from these habits. 

Here he read the daily papers, smoked 
and chatted, finding life very pleasant. Not 
decided as to business, and, having no regular 
occupation, he spent more and more time at 
the gaming-table. One day, having lost a 
considerable sum of money, and being deter- 
mined to win it back, he continued to play 
until wine and excitement made him reckless. 
He lost again, and rose from the table angry 
at his ill-luck ; but the next morning, being 
cool and wary, he recovered all he had lost. 

" You draw a prize to-day,” remarked one 
of his companions. " So it is ; down to-day 
and up to-morrow. Life is only a lottery, 
and we take our chance as it comes.” 


308 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


A great mistake. It was not chance which 
made this young man a gambler. It was not 
chance which led him to risk his fortune, 
until, in an evil hour, the whole was pledged 
as security for a debt of honor. 

This was but the result of a long series of 
events in which he had acted freely. Had 
he pursued a different course, the result 
would have been different. 

When his last dollar had been staked and 
lost, he rushed from the rooms in a frenzy 
of remorse and grief. Mr. Dempster, notic- 
ing his excited appearance, and fearing that 
he might be tempted to some rash act, fol- 
lowed him immediately. The young man 
had only reached home, and closed the door 
behind him, when Mr. Dempster himself 
sought admittance. 

"I wish to see your son,” he said, when 
ushered into the presence of a dignified elderly 
woman. 

"I think he is not in the house,” was her 
reply. 

"I saw him enter a moment ago,” re- 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


309 


sponded the visitor. " My business is urgent, 
and I wish to have a few minutes’ conversa- 
tion with him as soon as may be.” 

A troubled look overspread the woman’s 
face; yet she answered, calmly, "I will see 
myself if he is in his room.” 

Hiram Dempster was not a person whom 
she wished her son to see ; yet something in 
his manner constrained her to give him atten- 
tion. She went up the stairs, and knocked 
at the door of her son’s room. There was no 
reply, and upon trial she found that the door 
was securely locked. 

"I will open the door directly,” said a 
husky voice, and the next moment the key 
was turned. 

Mr. Dempster wishes to see you, and — ” 
here the mother interrupted herself exclaim- 
ing, " What can be the matter with you ! 
O James, when will you be persuaded to 
give up drinking ? ” 

"I have given it up, mother. I shall never 
drink any more liquor so long as I live.” 


310 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


" Then there is hope for you. I must stop 
a while and talk about it.” 

"Not now, mother. My room is in dis- 
order ; and, besides, you said Mr. Dempster 
wished to see me.” 

" He can wait ; and the disorder of your 
room makes no difference to me. I must 
come in,” she added, as by some movement 
of her son she was able to see the table and 
its contents. "I must come in.” 

Before he could prevent it she had entered 
the room, caught a pistol from the table, and, 
springing to an open window, dropped it into 
a clump of shrubbery beneath. 

"What would you do, my son?” she ex- 
claimed, confronting him ; and the words had 
hardly passed her lips, when he fell heavily 
to the floor. 

While this scene was transpiring, Mr. 
Dempster had in his impatience opened the 
hall door, so that the movements above could 
be distinctly heard. A terrible fear took 
possession of him. Was the young man 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


311 


dead ? It was with difficulty that he restrained 
himself from mounting the stairs. 

Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed, and still 
he received no message. He tried to read ; 
but found it impossible. His whole life 
passed in review before him, and like an ac- 
cusing angel stood over against him the rec- 
ord of his misdeeds. 

Half an hour, and then a slow, weary step 
was heard on the stairs. 

" My son cannot see you to day,” said the 
mother. " He is not well. If you have any 
message for him I will deliver it.” 

She remained standing while saying this, 
evidently expecting that the gentleman would 
leave at once. But something detained him. 

"1 thought, perhaps I might be of service. 
Young men are hasty and — ” Having said 
this much, Mr. Dempster was unable to com- 
plete his sentence. 

" It is such as you who have brought my 
son to his present condition,” responded the 
mother, sorrowfully. "Having left his whole 


312 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


fortune in your respectable rooms , it might 
seem that you would be satisfied.” 

The stinging emphasis upon the words, 
" respectable rooms,” was terrible to the 
listener. 

"Believe me, madam, I am very sorry for 
your son,” he at length found voice to sHy. 

" I came to tell him this, and endeavor to 
make some restitution.” 

" Restitution ! ” repeated the woman, with 
such bitter scorn that Hiram Dempster trem- 
bled. " Give me back my son innocent as he 
was before such as you had lured him to sin, 
and you are welcome to his money. O man, 
have you a son? If so, for his sake, may 
God pity you, and bring you to repentance. 
My boy is all I have.” 

The speaker was a woman of wonderful 
self-control ; but here she broke down utterly. 
Up to this time she had been standing. 
Weakness now compelled her to sit, 

" What more can you wish to say to me?” 
she asked, when she had recovered self-pos- 


AUNT DINAH’S PLEDGE. 


313 


session. " Our interview has been sufficiently 
long.” 

Still Mr. Dempster would not leave with- 
out making another effort to convince her 
that his errand was one of kindness. At first 
she listened incredulously, afterwards with 
interest when assured that he was sincere. 

" If you are truly sorry for the evil which 
has been done, you will prove it by your fu- 
ture life. Would you wish your son to spend 
his time in such rooms as you open to young 
men?” 

This was the question the heart-broken 
mother had asked, and which rang in his ears 
as he trod the familiar streets. 

Upon his return to the "respectable rooms,” 
he found that the young man’s sudden exit 
had been the subject of general conversation ; 
some expressing the belief that there had 
been unfair play. 

" Takes every cent he had,” said one. 

" A hard case,” said another. 

"You all seem wonderfully interested,” 
sneered a middle-aged man, who counted his 


314 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


gains as others lost. " Any one can have my 
claims against that fellow for half their real 
value.” 

"Done !” exclaimed Hiram Dempster, in- 
stantly. " I will take them, and give you my 
check which the bank will discount at sight.” 

" Here they are,” was the reply, as several 
papers were taken from a well-filled pocket- 
book, and placed upon the table. 

The exchange was quickly made ; and be- 
fore night the papers were returned to the 
young man whose signature they boye. 
There was a fine opportunity to make 
money; but, under the circumstances, it 
offered no temptation to the liquor-dealer. 
For once ho rejoiced in performing a gener- 
ous act ; but the end was not yet. 

The next morning he astonished his part- 
ners by announcing his determination to dis- 
pose of his share in the business of the firm. 
They objected to this ; but he insisted, and a 
settlement was made. He then went to visit 
his children. 

Such rejoicing as there was ! Aunt Dinah 


aunt dinah's pledge. 


315 


threw up her hands, shouting, " Bless de 
good Lord ! I knew ’twould come, honey, I 
knew sure.” 

Dr. Wilson frankly expressed his gratifica- 
tion ; and Albert, who was now on good 
terms with his former guardian, congratu- 
lated him upon having relinquished a dis- 
graceful business. 

It was reserved for Etta, however, to say 
more than even his own daughter. She was 
a great favorite with her uncle, as she called 
Mr. Dempster, and presumed much upon his 
regard for her. 

" There is one thing more you must do, 
and I know you will,” she added, after say- 
ing again and again how glad she was for 
what he had already done. 

" What is it ? ” he asked. 

" Sign Aunt Dinah’s pledge,” answered 
Etta, looking at him earnestly to see what 
effect her words produced. 

He was not quite ready to do this ; but 
promised to think of it. A few days after 
this Charley presented the pledge itself, 


316 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 


having obtained the loan of it for this very 
purpose. 

"There is my name, father, and I want 
you to write yours under it. Sister Mi says 
this is going to make me a good man, and 
you are a good man, father.” 

The confidence thus manifested touched 
his heart.* Charley had provided pen and 
ink, and he could invent no plausible excuse 
for not complying with his request. A few 
hasty strokes, and he was committed for life. 

" There ! I told Aunt Dinah you would 
sign it,” exclaimed the boy, triumphantly. 
" I must go and tell her this minute ; ” and 
away ran the boy, pledge in hand, to report 
his success. 

To his great surprise Aunt Dinah began to 
cry as soon as she heard the good news. 

"Why, I thought you would be glad,” he 
said. 

"Yes, chile, ’pears like I’m too glad,” 
sobbed the poor woman. 

Everybody was thankful and happy ; yet 
it was not thought best to say much about 


aunt dinah’s pledge. 317 

this. Mira felt that her mother’s prayers 
were answered, and her own anxiety well 
repaid. 

Not long after this Etta exhibited her 
pledge, with the additional signature she had 
so long sought to obtain. Her father had at 
length yielded to her solicitations and his 
own convictions of duty. 

Mr. Dempster thought he could be happy 
to spend his life quietly with his children ; 
but he was soon undeceived. He needed 
something to occupy his time, and once more 
engaged in business. The blessing of God 
rested upon him ; and this blessing he de- 
voutly acknowledged. He became a good 
man, sincerely repenting for the sins of his 
past life. 

Ten years passed, when, by a series of 
events which no one could foresee or prevent, 
he lost property to the exact amount of what 
he had amassed in the liquor traffic. Far 
from mourning over this as might have been 
expected, he seemed actually to rejoice. 

" Charley is safe now,” he said to his son- 


318 


aunt Dinah’s pledge. 


in-law. " I have always expected to receive 
some punishment, and have feared it would 
come through Charley. The money has 
gone, and now I believe the boy is safe.” 


This magic pledge ! No words profane, 
Nor vile tobacco’s poison stain, 

Pollute the lips of those who sign it; 

No wine, nor brandy, rum, nor gin, 
Becloud their brain, or lure to sin. 

Then shame to him who dares malign it. 







































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